In an early prisoner exchange mediated today by Turkiye, Kiev released pro-Moscow Verkhovna Rada member Viktor Medvechuk in exchange for five imprisoned leaders of the Azov Brigade. According to the agreement, the Azov members were to remain in Turkiye and not be sent back to Ukraine until after the war. Nevertheless, after his meeting yesterday with Zelenskyy and his statements about Ukraine joining NATO, Turkish President Erdogan also sent the Azov members back to Kiev.
On July 8, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov remarked, “The return of the Azovites is nothing less than a violation of the agreements.” He declared that both Turkiye and Ukraine violated the agreements. Peskov also indicated the reason for the violation by the Turkish side. “In the context of preparations for the NATO summit, Turkiye was put under great pressure, and Ankara, as a member of the Alliance, shows solidarity with it, the Russian Federation understands everything very well,” Peskov said.
