Putin pledges continued support for Azerbaijan-Armenia peace efforts

BAKU, Aug. 19 (Xinhua) -- President Vladimir Putin reaffirmed Russia's commitment to supporting the normalization of relations between Azerbaijan and Armenia during a state visit to Baku on Monday.

Speaking after talks with Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev, Putin emphasized Russia's role in facilitating a peace agreement based on the trilateral accords reached in 2020 and 2022 by the leaders of Russia, Azerbaijan, and Armenia.

"We are prepared to assist in the delimitation and demarcation of the border, utilizing relevant Soviet-era documents, as well as in unblocking cross-border routes and establishing humanitarian contacts," Putin stated.

Despite ongoing crises, including the situation in Ukraine, Putin underscored Russia's historical involvement in the South Caucasus and its commitment to participating in these efforts. He noted that any initiative must be primarily driven by the parties involved.

"If we can contribute to reaching a peace agreement between Azerbaijan and Armenia, achieve delimitation and demarcation of the border, and unblock necessary logistics and economic routes, we would be very pleased," Putin added.