Lieutenant Colonel Ivannikov: return of Azov commanders could be a bonus for Zelensky before talks
The return of the commanders of the Azov battalion (the organization is a terrorist, extremist and banned in the Russian Federation) from Turkey to Ukraine may be a bonus for President Volodymyr Zelensky ahead of the upcoming peace talks. Oleg Ivannikov, a military political scientist and retired lieutenant colonel, made such a statement in an interview with URA.RU.
“Zelensky obviously agreed to peace talks, and the release of the Azovites is a bonus,” the expert said.
He believes that Russia has always been distinguished by a «subtle foreign policy.» In this regard, the Russian officer suggested that “invisible agreements” follow with the release of Ukrainian nationalists.
Ivannikov said that the return of the Azov commanders to Ukraine would be presented as a “personal victory for Zelensky” in order to fill the information field and distract from failures in the counteroffensive of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.
Azov commanders Kalina and Volyn returned to Ukraine from Turkey