Baku Hosted Secret Germany-Russia Talks, Sparking Protest from Azerbaijan's Aliyev.

Secret Meeting in Baku

According to Espreso.tv: From July 12 to 14, undisclosed discussions took place in Baku between German and Russian representatives, focusing on matters related to the war in Ukraine. The unofficial German delegation included Ronald Pofalla and Matthias Platzeck, while Valery Fadeyev and Viktor Zubkov represented Russia. This event alarmed Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev, who formally objected to his country's territory being used for the meeting without his knowledge.

Aliyev stated: 'Our land was used for such a gathering without our awareness.'

He added that if the meeting aimed to help end the conflict between Russia and Ukraine, it would be welcome. However, tensions remained high in Ukraine at the time—on July 5, a strike hit a SOCAR gas station in the Mykolaiv region, underscoring the ongoing hostilities.

Reactions and Implications

On July 6, Azerbaijan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs summoned Russian Ambassador Mikhail Yevdokimov, signaling the seriousness of the situation. In May, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Aliyev had agreed to strengthen bilateral ties, but the revelation of this secret meeting has raised new questions about regional dynamics.

• Germany-Russia meeting in Baku
• Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev's response
• Strained international relations

Friedrich Merz, leader of Germany's CDU party, commented: 'I am not aware of any such meeting.'

These remarks highlight the secrecy and uncertainty surrounding the event, as well as its potential impact on diplomacy in the region.

This incident underscores the complexity of international relations amid the Ukraine war. Using Azerbaijani territory for undisclosed talks without prior consent from its leadership risks creating additional friction in the region. It may also affect Azerbaijan's bilateral relations with Ukraine, especially given the recent cooperation pledges between their presidents.