Turkish-Russian Talks Following Ankara's Return of Ukrainian Leaders

Russian and Turkish foreign ministers spoke over the phone today, on the day after Ankara stirred Moscow's anger by deciding to return five Ukrainian military leaders to their homeland alongside Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. The Russian Foreign Ministry noted that both sides focused on the recent developments regarding Ukraine, including Ankara's return of leaders who were held by it from the Ukrainian Azov Battalion. These leaders had been captured but were released under a prisoner exchange agreement made in September, which stated that they would remain in Turkey until the war was over. Zelensky returned these leaders, whom his country regards as heroes while Russia condemns them, to their homeland yesterday after his visit to Turkey. Ankara has not publicly commented on the decision to return the leaders to their country.