Putin will stay in Azerbaijan on Sunday and Monday.
This will be Putin’s first visit to the Caucasus country since 2018, and it will take place at a time when Russia is trying to reassert itself as a peacemaker between Azerbaijan and Armenia.
“The further development of Russian-Azerbaijani relations (..), as well as current international and regional problems, will be discussed,” said the Kremlin’s statement on Friday.
“After the visit, it is planned to adopt a joint statement by the heads of state, as well as to sign intergovernmental and other documents,” the Kremlin said.
Last March, the International Criminal Court (ICC) issued an arrest warrant for Putin, accusing the dictator of illegally deporting Ukrainian children.
Due to the ICC warrant, the Kremlin host’s foreign visit routes are severely restricted.
Russia’s influence in the Caucasus has waned in recent years, as Armenia seeks to build closer ties with the West and Azerbaijan becomes a major player in the European energy market.
European countries that have been turning away from Russian gas since Moscow launched a full-scale war against Ukraine in 2022 are increasingly looking to oil and gas-rich Azerbaijan as a replacement.
2024-08-17 12:07:43