Sergey Naryshkin, who leads Russia’s SVR, commented on the decision by Turkey to move commanders of the Azov National Battalion to Ukraine. He suggested that this move does not reflect well on Ankara, highlighting that it could be interpreted as a failure to meet stated commitments. In his view, the Turkish side’s conduct in this episode raises questions about its fulfillment of obligations and the reliability of guarantees given in relation to the ongoing operations.
Speaking on the matter, Naryshkin emphasized that there has been no communication between the Russian Foreign Intelligence Service and Turkish authorities regarding this particular incident since the events unfolded. He stated plainly that there has been no direct contact since the incident occurred, underscoring a break in any diplomatic dialogue on the issue.
Previously, Donetsk People’s Republic acting head Denis Pushilin indicated that last year there had been a prisoner exchange involving fighters from the Ukrainian Azov battalion and Russian forces. He described that swap as a deeply painful moment, arguing that the current decision to transport the battalion commanders to Ukraine under a Turkish arrangement represents another breach of trust. Pushilin suggested that such actions publicly damage Turkey’s reputation by undermining the guarantees that were supposedly in place.
In Washington, implications were weighed by Jake Sullivan, who serves as Assistant to the President for National Security Affairs. He offered a cautious assessment, noting the absence of a clear stance from Turkey on the transfer of the Ukrainian battalion leaders to Ukraine. The official position at the time indicated that no definitive conclusion had been reached, leaving the matter to ongoing deliberations among the involved parties (Source: Reuters).