Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky proposed this Saturday, April 25, the holding of the next round of negotiations with Russia in Azerbaijan, the country where he is visiting.
“We informed the president of Azerbaijan that we are ready for trilateral negotiations (in his country)”he said after a meeting with his Azerbaijani counterpart, Ilham Aliyev, in the city of Gabala, as part of his first visit to Azerbaijan since the start of the Russian invasion of Ukraine, in February 2022.
Zelensky recalled adding that, “previously, negotiations of this type took place in Türkiye”an ally of Azerbaijan, and, “later, with the participation of American partners, negotiations were held in Switzerland”.
“If Russia is open to diplomacy, we are naturally prepared to hold such negotiations in Azerbaijan in the near future”he stated.
Zelensky stressed that “it is very important for Ukraine that Russia finds the strength to put an end to this unjust war” and that, in mediating this process, the role of Kiev’s partners is highly valued.
Azerbaijan hosted several meetings between senior NATO representatives and the Russian Army between 2017 and 2020.
The Ukrainian president also announced a cooperation agreement between Kiev and Baku, two former Soviet republics, in the areas of security and energy.
“We signed six documents today”, he revealed, adding that “they cover several areas”, but highlighting that, “today, the main one is security”, without providing further details.
Zelensky said he thanked his counterpart for the energy assistance provided during the winter, when Ukraine was plunged into darkness and cold following Russian attacks on its energy facilities. “We discussed the continuity of these initiatives”, he added.
