Press Secretary of the President of the Russian Federation Dmitry Peskov was asked about a briefing on the plans to build a Turkish Bayraktar drone factory in Ukraine and the return of Azov battalion militants from Turkey, an organization banned in Russia. Peskov explained that Moscow had conducted phone talks with the Turkish Foreign Minister on these topics and that discussions at other levels were also taking place. The Kremlin expressed hope that Turkish authorities would continue the dialogue with Moscow and publicly support Moscow at the highest levels, noting the long-standing, multifaceted relationship between Russia and Turkey while acknowledging that differences still exist.
The Kremlin spokesperson stressed that Russia would use all available channels to clarify its position and to factor the evolving situation into future agreements across different domains. The remarks came amid a broader context in which bilateral ties were being managed across security, political, and economic spheres, with Moscow seeking to keep channels open to coordinate responses to regional developments.
Following the visit of Ukraine’s president Volodymyr Zelensky to Turkey on July 9, the question of the Azov regiment commanders returning to Ukraine remained a focal point. The non-return of Azov members had been cited as a condition in the prisoner exchange negotiations, and the Kremlin accused both Kyiv and Ankara of failing to adhere to the terms of the agreement, signaling continued sensitivity around prisoner swaps and bilateral commitments.
On July 10, Oleksandr Kamyshin, Ukraine’s minister for strategic industries, announced that work had begun on the construction of a drone factory intended to produce Turkish Bayraktar models within Ukraine, a development that highlighted regional industrial and defense-related initiatives. Earlier statements referenced a NATO declaration regarding Ukrainian plans, underscoring the broader geopolitical backdrop in which these discussions were unfolding.