Lavrov warns Turkey of “negative consequences” after handing over Ukrainian fighters

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July 9 () –

The Russian Foreign Minister, Sergei Lavrov, held a conversation this Sunday with his Turkish counterpart, Hakan Fidan, in which he warned him of the “negative consequences” that the delivery to Ukraine of combatants from Mariupol or from the delivery of war materiel to Kiev.

“The parties have exchanged views on the regional agenda with an emphasis on the most recent events related to Ukraine, such as the return of ‘Azov (Battalion) leaders’ from Istanbul to Kiev,” the Russian Foreign Ministry said. it’s a statement.

Five Ukrainian soldiers captured during the siege of the Azovstal factory in Mariupol were taken on Saturday from Istanbul to Kiev by Ukrainian President Volodimir Zelensky, despite the fact that Russia agreed to hand them over to Turkey in exchange for their not returning to Ukrainian soil until the end of hostilities. Russia has reproached Ankara for failing to comply with the agreement.

On the other hand, Lavrov “has called on Ankara to realize the destructive course” adopted in reference to “the continuous shipments of military materla to the Kiev regime.” “These measures can only bring negative consequences,” Lavrov has “underlined,” according to the Russian Foreign Ministry.

Moscow has also reported that the two ministers have agreed on the need to “preserve and strengthen the trustworthy nature of relations” bilateral.

In addition, Lavrov has conveyed to Fidan Russia’s discontent “in view of the inability” of Western countries to take the necessary measures to implement the UN plan for export through the Black Sea ports.

The agreement includes, on the one hand, allowing the export of Ukrainian cereals from the ports of Odessa, Chornomorsk and Yuzhni, and, on the other, the removal of restrictions on Russian agricultural exports. The agreement entered into force on July 17, 2022 and has been extended. The next renewal is scheduled precisely for next July 17. Moscow calls for more measures such as the reconnection of the Rosselkhozbank bank to the SWIFT international banking system.