Boryslav Bereza On Release Of Azov Fighters: Global Game Is On

The indignation of the Russian propagandists is only a performance of buffoons.

All the Ukrainian commanders who led the defense of Azovstal returned to Ukraine from Turkey, where they had been after being released from Russian captivity.

According to the agreement with Russia, they were supposed to stay in Turkey until the end of the war in Ukraine.

Has Erdogan violated the agreements with Putin? This question Charter97.org put to the Ukrainian politician and former deputy of the Verkhovna Rada Boryslav Bereza.

- Everything Erdogan does is in his own interest. Given that he clearly considers the benefits of both the "grain deal" and the rest, it is likely that we are witnessing some kind of global deal. For example, Erdogan lobbies Russia for something, and Russia hands over the Azov fighters, but does not mention it publicly, but is outraged. In addition, the president of Turkey is certainly important for Russia, because it is a transit corridor, and he is also, in a way, a lobbyist for the global South. Erdogan is extremely important in this format.

It is important for Erdogan to show that he is a successful negotiator with Russia against the backdrop of all the others who are failing to reach an agreement. I think Erdogan actually got the Kremlin's approval. Otherwise the reaction would have been completely different. The statements of Medvedev, Peskov and the rest of the talking heads should be treated as buffoons serving the Kremlin. Buffoons are supposed to entertain, and they do. Everything else is done behind the scenes, quietly and at the highest level, not at the level of buffoons.

- Then why does one need all this show?

- Because the Russian electorate, the electorate of the so-called Z-patriots, would not accept it if someone said that the Kremlin had authorized the transfer of the Azov fighters. In such a format it would be called "zrada zradenka" (betrayal), and in Russia it would be considered an outright betrayal. The Kremlin doesn't publicly announce that it authorized it. Erdogan doesn't explain anything. Meanwhile, the rest are offered to forget it. Like, for example, Skabeyeva's husband, the Russian State Duma deputy Skabeyev, alias Popov, who said: forget it and move on. The main version of the Russian authorities is that it happened unexpectedly, we can't do anything about it. We have to accept it. The other thing is what Russia gets from this.

- And what can it get?

- Russia can get some additional benefits, for example, the lifting of sanctions on Rosselkhozbank, which they desperately want, or something else. So this is a global story. For example, when Erdogan says he supports Ukraine joining NATO, he can say anything. He knows that nothing will happen without the consent of the United States, so his statements are just whistling and supporting his electorate, which wants to hear such things.

Here, on the contrary, he shows such a position towards Ukraine in order to get something from Kyiv in return. Besides, when he says he will deliver a certain number of self-propelled launchers, no one says when he will do it. We were promised F-16s at the beginning of the offensive, early summer, late summer, early fall, after the offensive, and now they say next year. Men can promise a lot, so what?

I point out again that Erdogan always pursues his own interests. He is a very experienced negotiator. Turks in general are experienced negotiators. Most likely, there are multi-vector negotiations underway, against the backdrop of which the return of the Azov fighters is just one part of a big deal that many people will not see.

- Will Putin now be "sold down the river" by other so-called allies, having discovered that Russia has "swallowed" it?

- Erdogan has not sold Putin down the river. It's just a game that the talking heads call treason. By the way, Putin himself can say that. The Kremlin dictator often lies in public. He says he doesn't know the "green men" in Crimea, and then says they are Russians. He says he will "denazify" Ukraine, that he won't fight against civilians, and that he can't find a single Nazi or fascist, while at the same time he is killing civilians.

Now Putin can say "we were deceived" when in fact he made a deal. Putin's lies are the natural state of a Kremlin dictator. He lies every time he opens his mouth. This is his common trait with the Minsk dictator. Same with Lukashenka - when he opens his mouth he lies, you can't get the truth from him. This is a global game. So you can trust me. Erdogan can make good gestures if he gets something in return. If he doesn't get anything, we won't see anything.

You can support the website Charter97.org

MULTI-CURRENCY ACCOUNT FOR ASSISTANCE:

Bank's name: Bank Millennium S.A.
Address: ul. Stanislawa Zaryna, 2A, 02-593, Warszawa
IBAN: PL97116022020000000216711123
SWIFT: BIGBPLPW
Name of the account holder: Fundacja “KARTA ‘97”
Purpose/title of payment: Donation for statuary aims

You can contact us by the e-mail charter97@gmail.com