Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev confirmed that secret meetings between Russian and German officials took place in Baku earlier this month.
Key facts
- •President Aliyev confirmed the secret meetings took place in Baku based on flight data.
- •Participants reportedly included German officials Matthias Platzeck and Ronald Pofalla, and Russian officials Viktor Zubkov and Valery Fadeyev.
- •The group of emissaries has allegedly held at least four meetings in Baku and Abu Dhabi since 2022.
- •The Kremlin has rejected the European Union's role as a mediator in peace negotiations.
- •German, French, and British ambassadors met with Russian Foreign Ministry officials in June.
Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev stated on Tuesday that Russian and German officials held secret talks in Baku earlier this month. Aliyev noted that the meeting occurred without his government's prior knowledge, citing flight data as evidence of the event. The confirmation came during a press conference alongside German Chancellor Friedrich Merz.
Details of the Meetings
According to the German tabloid Bild, former Brandenburg minister president Matthias Platzeck and former German chancellery chief of staff Ronald Pofalla arrived in Azerbaijan on July 12. They were reportedly followed by Russia’s former prime minister and current Gazprom board chairman, Viktor Zubkov, and presidential human rights chief Valery Fadeyev. Media reports suggest this group of emissaries has held at least four meetings in Baku and Abu Dhabi since the 2022 invasion of Ukraine.
Context of Diplomatic Efforts
While Aliyev expressed that he would welcome any meeting that helps end the war between Russia and Ukraine, the Kremlin has publicly dismissed the European Union as a potential mediator. Reports from June indicated that the office of Chancellor Merz had been preparing for potential talks with Russian officials following consultations with France and Britain. Ambassadors from those three nations met with senior Russian Foreign Ministry officials last month.
Timeline
- 2022The Russian invasion of Ukraine began, marking the start of a series of meetings between the emissary group.
- JuneGerman media reported that Chancellor Merz's office was preparing for talks with Russian officials.
- July 12Matthias Platzeck and Ronald Pofalla arrived in Azerbaijan.
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This article was independently rewritten by ManyPress editorial AI from reporting originally published by The Moscow Times.
