Russia and Azerbaijan promote regional peace narrative despite unresolved disputes with Armenia

(Horizon Media) — Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and his Azerbaijani counterpart Jeyhun Bayramov held talks in Moscow on Thursday, presenting an optimistic assessment of regional developments despite continuing obstacles to an Armenian-Azerbaijani peace agreement and lingering questions over Russia’s role in the South Caucasus.

Following the meeting, Bayramov claimed that recent developments, including the initialling of the peace treaty, had created a “unique opportunity” for lasting peace and declared that “de facto peace” now existed between Armenia and Azerbaijan.

The statement, however, comes as Baku continues to impose additional conditions for signing the agreement, including demands for changes to Armenia’s Constitution. Azerbaijani forces also remain positioned on internationally recognized Armenian territory seized during incursions since 2021, casting doubt on claims that relations have already entered a genuine period of peace.

Lavrov, meanwhile, said Russia remained prepared to assist Armenia and Azerbaijan in reopening regional transport and economic links and resolving humanitarian issues. He argued that normalization should proceed on the basis of Russian-brokered agreements reached between 2020 and 2022.

Moscow’s credibility as a mediator has nevertheless been significantly weakened by its failure to enforce those agreements, prevent Azerbaijan’s blockade of Artsakh or stop the September 2023 Azerbaijani aggression that forced the region’s Armenian population to flee.

Lavrov also criticized Western involvement in the South Caucasus, accusing outside powers of turning the region into an arena of geopolitical confrontation. He promoted the 3+3 regional platform, involving Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Russia, Iran, and Türkiye, as a mechanism to address regional challenges without external interference.

The format has effectively operated as a 3+2 platform because Georgia refuses to participate while Russia continues to occupy Abkhazia and South Ossetia. Observers have also questioned whether a mechanism dominated by Russia, Turkey and Azerbaijan can adequately protect Armenia’s security and sovereign interests.

The Russian and Azerbaijani ministers additionally discussed bilateral economic cooperation and the December 2024 crash of an Azerbaijan Airlines passenger aircraft near Aktau. Lavrov claimed that all issues connected with the disaster had been settled, although Azerbaijan previously demanded compensation and threatened legal action against Russia over allegations that the aircraft was struck by fragments from Russian air-defence missiles.