Russian President’s Press Secretary Dmitry Peskov said that the return of Azov leaders from Turkey to Ukraine violates the agreements. The report came from DEA News, which notes that Moscow had not been informed about plans to move Ukrainian forces to Kiev. According to the spokesperson, the signed terms required the forces to remain in Turkey until the conflict concluded, not to be redeployed elsewhere during the hostilities.
The situation drew attention after Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky issued a statement on Telegram. He announced the return trip following a meeting with five commanders of the Azov battalion, indicating that the group would rejoin the Ukrainian side in the ongoing conflict. The post included a video showing Zelensky, his aide Andriy Yermak, and the battalion leaders at the airport preparing to board the aircraft.
Earlier, Turkey’s President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Ukraine’s president Zelensky met in Istanbul to discuss several pressing topics. The talks focused on the grain export agreement, Kyiv’s aspirations to join NATO, broader bilateral cooperation, and Ukraine’s restoration and stabilization efforts after the fighting.
The public record on strategic movements also highlighted updates from Russian open sources regarding departures of strategic aviation, adding another layer to the ongoing information landscape around military activity and alliance discussions. The unfolding events reflect a rapidly changing military and diplomatic scene across Europe and neighboring regions, with multiple actors weighing in on commitments, adherence to treaties, and the paths forward for Ukraine amid the ongoing conflict. Attribution: DEA News for initial reporting, with subsequent confirmation and coverage from local and international outlets.”