BAKU: Russian President Vladimir Putin, on a visit to Baku, said on Monday that Moscow was still committed to its historic role of mediating peace negotiations between Azerbaijan and Armenia, despite its ongoing Ukraine campaign.
This marks Putin’s first visit to Azerbaijan since the Russian invasion of Ukraine in 2022 and follows Azerbaijan’s recent military actions in the Nagorno-Karabakh region.
During a two-day visit to Azerbaijan, Putin reaffirmed Russia’s historic role as a mediator in the South Caucasus, even as Western powers have increasingly taken on a prominent role in the region’s diplomacy.
Addressing the media alongside Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev, Putin acknowledged the challenges faced by Russia but emphasized the country’s readiness to facilitate dialogue between the conflicting parties.
“It is widely known that Russia is also facing crises, first of all on the Ukrainian track,” Putin stated. “However, Russia’s historical involvement in the events in the South Caucasus, even during recent years, makes it necessary for us to participate where needed by the sides, without a doubt.”
The visit comes in the wake of Azerbaijan’s decisive military campaign in September 2023, which led to the recapture of Nagorno-Karabakh from Armenian control. This offensive ended three decades of Armenian separatist rule and triggered a significant shift in regional dynamics.
Relations between Yerevan and Moscow have since soured, with Armenia accusing Russia of inaction and seeking closer ties with Western countries. In light of these developments, Armenia’s Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan has expressed a cautious openness to new peace initiatives but remains skeptical of Russian mediation.
Putin stated that after his visit to Baku, he would reach out to Pashinyan to brief him on the outcomes of his discussions with Aliyev. “If we can do something to sign a peace agreement between Azerbaijan and Armenia… we will be very happy to,” Putin said.
Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev highlighted the significance of continued cooperation with Russia for regional security. “The new situation since September last year opens up new opportunities for establishing a lasting peace in the South Caucasus,” Aliyev remarked.
The Kremlin’s renewed offer to mediate comes at a time when Western nations have become more involved in the South Caucasus peace process, partly due to perceptions of Russia’s reduced influence and credibility following its military commitments in Ukraine.
