Kyiv, Ukraine – In a significant diplomatic move aimed at breaking the deadlock in negotiations, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky announced on Saturday his country’s readiness to host a new round of trilateral talks with the United States and Russia on Azerbaijani soil.
This came during his first official visit to Baku since the start of the full-scale Russian invasion in 2012. During the visit, he met with Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev in the northern city of Gabala.
Azerbaijan: A new intermediary platform
Zelensky’s proposal comes in the context of an attempt to revive the trilateral negotiations format (Ukraine-US-Russia) that began in early 2016. However, these negotiations stalled due to the parallel military escalation in the Middle East. Azerbaijan emerges as a strong candidate to host these talks, given its position as a relatively neutral party that maintains balanced relations with both Kyiv and Moscow. Its recent record of achieving a peace agreement with Armenia, with the support of the Trump administration, further strengthens its candidacy.
Strategic security and energy agreements
In addition to the political initiative, the visit saw the signing of six bilateral agreements described as strategic between Kyiv and Baku.
While precise technical details were not disclosed, Zelensky confirmed that these understandings cover security and defense. They also focused on drone technology and air defense systems.
The agreements also included provisions related to the energy sector. Ukraine seeks to strengthen its partnership with Azerbaijan’s SOCAR to secure oil and gas supplies, reducing its dependence on Russian sources.
Context of international pressures
This visit is part of a broader diplomatic tour by Zelensky, which has included influential regional capitals such as Riyadh, aimed at expanding international support for his peace plan.
While the initiative reflects Ukraine’s desire to capitalize on the Trump administration’s sponsorship of the negotiation process, the success of the “Baku Platform” remains contingent on the approval of Moscow and Washington, neither of which has yet issued an official response. Observers believe that Zelensky’s move toward the Caucasus represents a shrewd attempt to circumvent the obstacles that have hindered negotiations in Europe. He also benefits from Azerbaijan’s desire to play a larger international role. Furthermore, Kyiv is capitalizing on its pressing need for security guarantees and stable energy supplies to ensure its resilience against ongoing Russian military pressure.
