Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev confirmed that former German and Russian officials held secret talks in Baku earlier this month to discuss possible ways to end Russia’s war against Ukraine. Speaking alongside German Chancellor Friedrich Merz in Berlin, Aliyev said Azerbaijan was not officially informed by either side. Merz denied any German government involvement, while the reported talks raised concerns over unofficial diplomacy without Ukraine at the table.
Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev has confirmed that former German and Russian officials held secret talks in Baku.
Speaking during a joint press conference in Berlin with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, Aliyev said Azerbaijan only became aware of the meetings through media reports and had not been officially notified by either Berlin or Moscow.
