Türkiye did not set any conditions for Kyiv to return Azov commanders

Vasyl Bodnar, Ukraine's Ambassador to Turkiye, has said that Turkiye had not set any conditions for the return of the commanders who defended Mariupol.  Source: Bodnar on air with Svoboda Ranok (Liberty Morning), a Radio Liberty project Quote from Bodnar: "In fact, no conditions have been put forward that I am aware of for the return of our military.

On the contrary, this is precisely the peculiar nature of this position of the Turkish side as a mediator, which provides so-called good services to keep the process going. Its role, of course, is also important in this process. As its rating rises."

Details: Bodnar has also said that the negotiations on setting the commanders free lasted several months. And "the entire diplomatic vanguard" had been involved in this process.

He said that President Volodymyr Zelenskyy had raised this particular issue during previous phone conversations with his Turkish counterpart, Recep Tayyip Erdogan. Bodnar believes that Ankara is interested in this operation because it strengthens Turkiye's position in the international arena and in communication with Russia.

"Let's not assume that this is just a kind gesture towards Ukraine.

It is also a strengthening of Turkiye's position in communication with the Russian side," the ambassador said.

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