Erdogan announced a meeting with Putin: he would explain why he released the commanders-defenders of Mariupol

While communicating with journalists, the Turkish president first redirected Zelensky's question about Azovstal commanders. However, in a moment he stated that he would talk about them with Putin. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said during a briefing at a NATO summit in Vilnius that he was planning to meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin. One of the goals of the meeting is to explain how it happened that he released commanders from Azovstal to Ukraine.

A fragment of the Turkish policy was published by the media. The journalists present at the briefing asked Erdogan about the reasons why he violated an agreement that allegedly existed with respect to the commanders of the unit defending Mariupol. The politician escaped the answer and suggested asking Zelensky. In a few minutes, Turkish President Erdogan announced a meeting with Putin.

The topics for the conversation did not list, but noted that one of the topics would touch the commanders from Azovstal. The only detail that was heard - the meeting could take place in August 2023. It should be noted that a few minutes after the announcement of Erdogan's statement, the Kremlin head Dmitry Peskov, the possibility of meeting two leaders. According to him, there is no this meeting in Putin's plans.

Meanwhile, the Turkish national edition of Anadolu reported some more Erdogan statements. In particular, the politician stressed that he proposes Turkey as a mediator in the negotiations of Ukraine and Russia. At the same time he recalled successful cases - a grain agreement and the exchange of prisoners. As for the Grain Agreement, some details added: "Mr. [Vladimir] Zelensky advocates for the continuation of the agreement. Mr [Vladimir] Putin has made some initiatives.

We work with these initiatives. " It should be noted that in the fall of 2022, the Azovstal commanders were in Turkey. It was stated that they were before the end of the war - such were arrangements. Meanwhile, the President of Zelensky visited Ankar. After communicating with the head of Ukraine, Erdogan supported Ukraine's accession to NATO and released the captive commanders home.

We would like to remind you that on July 11-12, a NATO summit continues in Vilnius, which, among others, will make a decision on the prospect of Ukraine's membership. Jens Stoltenberg stated that there will be no invitation yet, but membership will be in the future. Meanwhile, NATO proposed a certain security program to Ukraine, which modernizes aviation and strengthen political cooperation. On July 12, Zelensky met with US President Joe Biden.