The bloody dictator was sure that such an exchange would not cause a negative reaction from the Russians.
Russian President Putin personally insisted on the exchange of the captured defenders of Azovstal for Viktor Medvedchuk . He was warned about the consequences, but he did not listen to anyone. The Federal Security Service of the Russian Federation also opposed the exchange.
This is with reference to American and Ukrainian officials who wished to remain anonymous, according to the Washington Post .
Thus, Putin did not heed the warning that the exchange of 215 prisoners, including 10 foreigners and five commanders who surrendered at Azovstal, for Viktor Medvedchuk and 55 Russians from Ukrainian captivity would cause a backlash among his supporters.
“It is significant that Putin preferred to exchange his hanger-on and one of the confidants in Ukraine, Medvedchuk, for the heroes of Mariupol. In Ukraine, many were happy that they had returned home valiant soldiers, and in Moscow, many saw with disgust what was really important for Putin,” – said one of the American sources.
Ukrainian officials told WP that the unequal exchange, in which there were almost four times as many Ukrainians released as Russians, and the fact that 108 of them represented the Azov Regiment, greatly worried the Russian FSB.
“The FSB was categorically against it. They were aware of the implications of how the deal would look to the public,” one of the sources added.
Zelensky called the return of the prisoners a victory for the state, but in the Russian Federation Putin’s decision was sharply condemned.
The middleman exchanging messages between Moscow and Kyiv was Russian oligarch Roman Abramovich, who is under European Union sanctions for his close ties to Putin. Abramovich traveled between Riyadh and Moscow for several months to negotiate the exchange, discussing FSB Director Oleksandr Bortnikov and Zelenskiy’s chief of staff Andriy Yermak.Abramovich briefed Ukrainian officials on the Kremlin’s views, even as some of Zelenskiy’s top aides doubted Putin would ultimately approve the budding deal, say those familiar with the matter. in edition.
In the US State Department, anonymous sources also noted that the exchange of “Azov” for Medvechuk showed how important he was to Putin.
(C)UNIAN 2022