Hikmat Hajiyev: Azerbaijan ready to host Russia-Ukraine talks in Baku if both sides agree

Azerbaijan is prepared to provide all necessary conditions for hosting peace negotiations between Russia and Ukraine in Baku, should both parties express interest.

According to Report, the statement was made by Hikmat Hajiyev, Assistant to the President of Azerbaijan and Head of the Foreign Policy Affairs Department of the Presidential Administration, in an interview with German outlet Berliner Zeitung.

Hajiyev emphasized that Baku has already established itself as the diplomatic capital in the region by hosting several high-level international talks.

“If our friends and partners [Russia and Ukraine] wish to meet in Baku, we would gladly welcome them. Baku is already the diplomatic capital of the Caspian region. It has hosted negotiations between Türkiye and Israel, and between Syria and Israel,” he said.

Hajiyev also noted that Baku was the venue for past strategic discussions between Russia and the US on missile defense systems, as well as Russia-NATO negotiations. "Recently, many diplomatic meetings have taken place in Baku. We welcome everyone, but we cannot compel anyone—they must approach us themselves," Hajiyev added.