BAKU, Azerbaijan, August 6. The high-level Azerbaijani-Ukrainian meetings held in Kyiv may at first glance seem like another diplomatic contact between the foreign ministers of the two countries. However, the content of the visit, the scope of the issues discussed, and the messages conveyed show that we are not only talking about the current state of bilateral relations, but also about the next stage of strategic partnership against the backdrop of new geopolitical realities emerging in the South Caucasus and the Black Sea region. Namely in this context, the visit of Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Jeyhun Bayramov to Ukraine is noteworthy.
The main distinguishing feature of Azerbaijani-Ukrainian relations is that, despite acting in different geopolitical environments, the parties have been sharing the position on issues of sovereignty, territorial integrity of states and the rule of international law for many years. This principle was confirmed during the meetings held in Kyiv. Bayramov once again declared Azerbaijan's unwavering support for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine within its internationally recognized borders. Meanwhile, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha emphasized that Kyiv is also supporting the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Azerbaijan with the same consistency. This mutual approach has further strengthened the political basis of relations in recent years.
Another noteworthy point is that while demonstrating this position, Baku also prioritizes the resolution of conflicts only through diplomatic means. Bayramov’s emphasis at a press conference on the importance of stopping military operations as soon as possible and resuming the negotiation process on the basis of international law is a continuation of the foreign policy course that Azerbaijan has been developing for many years. This approach isn't accidental. Azerbaijan itself, as a state that has faced the consequences of the selective application of international law for many years, consistently defends the importance of resolving conflicts on the basis of legal principles.
Official position: Agenda of strategic partnership expanding
According to the Azerbaijani Ministry of Foreign Affairs, within the framework of Bayramov’s official visit to Ukraine, a one-on-one meeting was held with Andriy Sibiha, and then an expanded meeting with the participation of delegations. During the talks, the main directions on the agenda of the strategic partnership - political dialogue, trade and economic cooperation, energy, humanitarian relations, regional and international security issues - were discussed in detail.
The parties highly appreciated the role of the political consultation mechanism between the Ministries of Foreign Affairs, the Intergovernmental Joint Commission on Economic Cooperation and the Business Council in the development of cooperation. The meeting also positively assessed the recent recovery trends in trade turnover and exchanged views on further expanding economic relations.
During the discussions on regional issues, Azerbaijan once again declared its support for the cessation of military operations in Ukraine and the resolution of the conflict through diplomatic means based on the norms and principles of international law. At the same time, Azerbaijan's consistent support for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine within its internationally recognized borders was reaffirmed.
Humanitarian diplomacy complements political dialogue
In modern international relations, the level of partnership between states is no longer measured solely by political statements. Practical cooperation, support provided in times of crisis, and long-term projects are considered to be the main factors determining the real content of relations. Azerbaijan's policy towards Ukraine is also built on this model.
During the meeting, the Ukrainian side also paid special attention to humanitarian issues. Sybiha expressed condolences for the deaths and injuries of Azerbaijani citizens as a result of military operations in the Black and Azov Seas, expressed condolences to the families of the deceased, and wished a speedy recovery to the injured.
Sybiha's condolences over the deaths and injuries of Azerbaijani citizens as a result of military operations in the Black and Azov Seas were another indication of the humanitarian side of the relations. This is of particular importance against the background of the damage caused to Azerbaijani citizens as a result of the attack by a drone of the civilian merchant ship "Atlas Bey" near the coast of Odessa in July. After that incident, the Azerbaijani Embassy in Ukraine carried out operational consular measures, ensured the evacuation of crew members, and organized the return to Azerbaijan of the body of the deceased ship captain Samad Nasrullayev. The next warning addressed by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to Azerbaijani citizens working in conflict zones and high-risk routes was a continuation of the importance the state attaches to the safety of its citizens.
During the meeting, the ministers also reviewed in detail the humanitarian support provided by Azerbaijan to Ukraine. It was noted that the total volume of humanitarian assistance provided by Azerbaijan to Ukraine since the beginning of the military escalation has exceeded $50 million. This assistance was not limited to food and medical supplies. The restoration of energy infrastructure, the delivery of electrical equipment, the reconstruction of social facilities, the restoration of Academic Zarifa Aliyeva Linguistic Lyceum No. 12, and the Central City Hospital in Irpin, as well as the involvement of 700 Ukrainian children in rehabilitation and psychological support programs in Azerbaijan, demonstrate Azerbaijan’s longer-term humanitarian approach.
In this regard, Bayramov’s visit to Irpin has a special symbolic meaning. Getting acquainted with the facilities restored with Azerbaijani financial support, visiting the Zarifa Aliyeva park and presenting plans for the future restoration of the Irpin House of Culture show that Baku continues to contribute not only to the elimination of the devastation caused by the war, but also to the reshaping of Ukraine’s social infrastructure. This is one of the important examples of how humanitarian diplomacy has already become a separate direction in Azerbaijan’s foreign policy.
Energy and economic cooperation hold special place in Kyiv talks
Another important direction is cooperation in the energy sector. This topic was highlighted as a separate strategic line in the talks held in Kyiv. In recent years, the priority of energy security issues in Europe has further increased the role of Azerbaijan. In this regard, Bayramov's statement that all commercially viable and technically justified options for using Ukraine's underground gas storage facilities can be considered, as well as his statement that they are ready to supply gas to Ukraine if necessary, has a broader meaning than just bilateral relations.
This statement can be assessed as a political message indicating that Azerbaijan's growing role in Europe's energy security can also include the Ukrainian direction. This is not just about possible gas exports. The main point is that Azerbaijan demonstrates its intention to expand its position as a reliable supplier on the changing energy map, as well as to participate more actively in strengthening the energy stability of partner countries.
In this context, particular emphasis on SOCAR’s activities in Ukraine is also not coincidental. The fact that the company continued its activities even in the most difficult times of the war and participated in fuel supplies shows that economic cooperation continues even in times of crisis. As Jeyhun Bayramov emphasized, supporting the operation of civilian facilities, delivering humanitarian cargo, and assisting in the restoration of energy infrastructure remain among Azerbaijan's priorities.
Economic statistics also indicate the stage of restoration of relations shows that. Before the war, in 2021, the bilateral trade turnover reached $900 million. Although this figure decreased to $350 million in the subsequent period, it exceeded $500 million again last year. In the first six months of this year, the volume of mutual trade approached $280 million. This dynamics indicates that, despite the difficulties created by the war, business relations are adapting to the new conditions and economic cooperation is gradually being restored. The ministers' agreements on expanding cooperation in investment, transport, energy, science, education, healthcare, culture and youth policy can also be seen as a continuation of this trend.
Another noteworthy point during the visit was the importance given to historical diplomatic traditions. Bayramov's viewing archival documents on the activities of the diplomatic mission of the Azerbaijan Democratic Republic in Ukraine in 1918-1920 at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine shows that relations between the two countries are not based only on modern political conditions. The emphasis on historical diplomatic ties can also be seen as a political message that strategic partnership has deep roots.
The South Caucasus wasn't left out of the spotlight during the meetings in Kyiv either. The Azerbaijani side informed the Ukrainian leadership about the normalization process with Armenia, the reconstruction work carried out in the liberated territories, and the mine threat. Thus, Baku once again showed that it presents regional security issues not only as a national issue, but also as an integral part of a broader international security system. This approach is an important line observed in Azerbaijan's foreign policy in recent years. Official Baku doesn't separate regional processes from the global security level and presents these issues as an integral part of the agenda of mutual interest in the dialogue with partner countries.
Member of working group: Strategic partnership enters new stage
Commenting on the topic to Trend, Azerbaijani MP, Member of the Working Group on Azerbaijan-Ukraine Interparliamentary Relations Kamran Bayramov said that Jeyhun Bayramov's official visit to Ukraine is an important diplomatic event that demonstrates the consistent development of strategic partnership between the two countries and the continuous nature of high-level political dialogue.
According to the MP, this visit, held in a complex geopolitical environment, shows that relations between Baku and Kyiv, based on mutual trust, have entered a new stage. He noted that it is of particular importance to reaffirm in the negotiations the commitment to the norms and principles of international law, in particular the sovereignty, territorial integrity and inviolability of borders of states.
Bayramov said that the scale of humanitarian cooperation is also one of the main factors indicating the strategic nature of relations. According to him, support for the restoration of energy infrastructure, projects implemented in Irpin, cooperation in the field of mine clearance, and the rehabilitation of Ukrainian children in Azerbaijan further strengthen trust between the two peoples.
The MP noted that economic and energy cooperation also opens up new prospects.
"Restoration of trade turnover, expansion of investment opportunities, and discussion of new formats of cooperation in the energy sector indicate the intention of the parties to use the existing potential more effectively," he pointed out.
Azerbaijani-Ukrainian relations expand beyond political dialogue
All these points show that Azerbaijani-Ukrainian relations are currently not limited to political dialogue. Humanitarian diplomacy, energy security, economic cooperation, historical diplomatic traditions and protection of international law have become the main pillars of the strategic partnership between the two countries.
Jeyhun Bayramov's visit to Kyiv can also be assessed as a political step serving to strengthen these pillars. The messages given showed that, on the one hand, Baku maintains its principled position based on international law, and on the other hand, it is trying to expand practical directions of cooperation with Ukraine and bring relations to a new stage.
At the same time, the results of the visit give reason to say that Azerbaijan is not just an observer of the new geopolitical and geoeconomic realities taking shape in the region, but is one of the actors actively participating in their formation. The multifaceted agenda, ranging from humanitarian projects to energy security, from economic cooperation to political dialogue, once again demonstrates the flexible and pragmatic nature of Baku's foreign policy. This, in turn, acts as one of the main factors indicating that in the near future, Azerbaijani-Ukrainian relations will develop more systematically and meaningfully in both the political, economic and humanitarian spheres.
