Azerbaijani President's Statement
Ilham Aliyev, the President of Azerbaijan, has expressed outrage over a clandestine meeting of former high-ranking German and Russian officials held in Baku from July 12 to 14 to discuss potential pathways to end the war in Ukraine. Aliyev stated that Azerbaijan only learned of this gathering through press reports and emphasized that no Azerbaijani representatives were present at the talks. He voiced strong disapproval that his country's territory was used for such discussions without his knowledge, declaring:
“Our territory was used for this meeting without our knowledge” — Ilham Aliyev
Meeting Details
According to reports, the following individuals arrived in Baku on July 12:
- Ronald Pofalla, former head of the chancellery under ex-Chancellor Angela Merkel
- Matthias Platzeck, former governor of the state of Brandenburg
They returned to Berlin on July 14. On the same day, the following flew into Baku:
- Viktor Zubkov, former Prime Minister of Russia and chairman of Gazprom's board of directors
- Valery Fadeyev, head of the Russian Presidential Council for Human Rights
One Russian representative left Baku on July 13, the other on July 14.
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, meanwhile, stated he had no knowledge of the meeting, saying:
“I am not aware of any such meeting” — Friedrich Merz
Aliyev added that if the meeting helps end the war between Russia and Ukraine, that would be welcome, but noted: “Neither Germany nor Russia informed us about this.”
This incident highlights the intricate nature of international diplomacy amid the Ukraine conflict and Azerbaijan’s potential role as a mediator. The lack of transparency around the talks may point to communication gaps between European nations and Russia, as well as possible regional misunderstandings. Aliyev’s reaction could also reflect Azerbaijan’s drive to solidify its diplomatic stance on the global stage.