Russia–Turkey Ties Come Under Strain After Return of Ukraine’s Azov Commanders

Russian President Vladimir Putin (L) and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan pose for the media before their talks during the G-20 Summit in Antalya, Turkey, on Nov. 16. Alexander Zemlianichenko/AP Photo

The Kremlin is seeking an explanation from Turkey regarding the latter’s recent decision to allow five Ukrainian Azov Battalion commanders to return to Kyiv, in an apparent breach of an earlier prisoner-swap agreement.

“The return of the Azov leaders violates an existing agreement,” Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters on July 10.