The Russian chief’s two-day state go to marks a shift in alliances within the politically unstable Caucasus area.
Russian President Vladimir Putin says on a go to to Baku that Moscow continues to be dedicated to its historic function of mediating peace negotiations between Azerbaijan and Armenia regardless of its battle in Ukraine.
Putin was in Azerbaijan on a two-day go to – his first to the oil-rich nation since Moscow invaded Ukraine in 2022 and since Baku retook the Nagorno-Karabakh enclave from ethnic Armenian separatists in a September offensive.
Russia has for many years been a conventional mediator between the Caucasus foes, each of that are former Soviet republics, however up to now two years, Moscow has been slowed down by its Ukraine campaign, and Western powers have been enjoying a bigger function in arbitrating the battle.
“It’s extensively recognized that Russia can be going through crises, to begin with on the Ukrainian observe,” Putin stated in Baku on Monday in joint remarks with Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev.
“Nonetheless, Russia’s historic involvement within the occasions within the South Caucasus, even throughout current years, makes it obligatory for us to take part the place wanted by the edges, surely.”
Baku’s marketing campaign ended three many years of Armenian separatist rule in Nagorno-Karabakh and soured relations between Yerevan and its conventional ally Moscow. Armenia accused Russia of inaction and has strengthened its ties with Western international locations since.
Russia had refused to intervene on Yerevan’s aspect, and Azerbaijan retook the long-disputed area. After years of battle, the Armenian inhabitants fled the mountainous area out of concern of reprisals – an exodus of greater than 100,000 individuals.
“If we are able to do one thing to signal a peace settlement between Azerbaijan and Armenia, … we will probably be very pleased to,” Putin stated.
The Russian chief stated that after his Baku go to, he’ll contact Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan to “inform him in regards to the outcomes of our negotiations”.
Aliyev stated the safety of the area largely relied on the shut cooperation between Azerbaijan and Russia.
“The brand new scenario [since September] opens up new alternatives for establishing an enduring peace within the South Caucasus,” he stated.
After the talks, Putin stated the leaders mentioned joint initiatives, together with the development of small tankers designed to move oil from the Caspian and Black Sea areas to the Mediterranean.
Azerbaijan, which lies on the Caspian Sea, is a crucial power provider for the European Union. The nation has beforehand pursued a coverage largely impartial of Moscow.