Russian, Turkish FMs discuss return of Azov commanders to Kiev

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: Agencies
10 Jul 2023 08:19

The Russian FM and his Turkish counterpart exchange views on the regional agenda with a focus on the recent development around Ukraine.

Russian FM Sergey Lavrov (TASS)

Russia's Foreign Ministry on Sunday confirmed that Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov told his Turkish counterpart Hakan Fidan in a phone conversation that "the course toward continuing weapons supplies to Kiev" is destructive.

"Ankara’s attention was drawn to the destructiveness of the course toward continuing weapons supplies to the Kiev regime. It was stressed that such steps could only lead to negative consequences," the Russian Foreign Ministry indicated.

This comes after the United States announced Friday it will provide cluster munitions to Ukraine for the first time.

The Ministry added that the return of leaders of the Azov Battalion from Turkey to Ukraine was discussed between Lavrov and Fidan.

It said that "the sides exchanged views on the regional agenda with a focus of recent development around Ukraine, including the situation with the return of Azov commanders from Istanbul to Kiev."

A few days ago, Kremlin Spokesperson Dmitry Peskov indicated that the return of leaders of the Azov Battalion to Ukraine from Turkey is a violation of the terms of the existing agreements between Ankara and Kiev.

The Ministry mentioned that the two top diplomats emphasized the importance of boosting "the trust-based nature of relations" between Russia and Turkey.

"The ministers reiterated the necessity to preserve and strengthen the trust-based nature of relations between Moscow and Ankara on the basis of principle agreements between Presidents Vladimir Putin and Recep Tayyip Erdogan," it said.

According to the Ministry, Lavrov and Fidan "also touched upon prospects for further cooperation on issues related to ensuring global food security in conditions of the inability of Western states to take steps necessary for the implementation of the United Nations Secretary General’s ‘package initiative.'"

Elsewhere, the two foreign ministers touched on several sides of bilateral cooperation, including a schedule for future communication.