Azerbaijan's President Ilham Aliyev, while responding to a moderator's question at the International Cernobbio Forum about Azerbaijan's potential involvement in resolving the conflict between Russia and Ukraine, said that this is possible.

"If we are speaking hypothetically, it is entirely possible. First of all, considering that we were part of the Soviet Union for 70 years along with Russia and Ukraine, we maintain multi-faceted relationships both at the personal and political levels. Today, we consider our relations with both Russia and Ukraine to be very good. We strongly support the territorial integrity and sovereignty of Ukraine and all other countries. However, at the same time, we have not been and will not be part of the anti-Russia sanctions campaign," the head of state said.

President Ilham Aliyev, emphasizing that Azerbaijan could play a role in the process given its pragmatic relations with both countries, stated:

"We have never initiated any proposals related to this process. I know that many want to participate in this matter. But if our participation is required, we are ready."

Axar.az reports that political analyst Elkhan Shahinoglu said in a statement that, like other countries, Azerbaijan also wants the Russia-Ukraine war to come to an end.

“The war continues at full intensity. Many states have tried to act as mediators. Representatives from Russia and Ukraine held meetings in Turkey, but no results were achieved. Afterward, China proposed a multi-point peace plan, but Kyiv rejected this 'peace plan' because it did not call for the withdrawal of Russian troops from Ukrainian territory. Without that, the issue will not be resolved.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi also made several initiatives. He visited Moscow and Kyiv, highlighting that meetings between the sides could be held on Indian territory. However, this was not positively received either. Before the conflict, representatives from Russia and Ukraine held meetings in Belarus. But since the war started, Kyiv no longer accepts Belarus as a mediator because Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko supports Russia’s war against Ukraine. He has lost his neutrality."

The expert added that Azerbaijan is the most suitable venue for organizing a meeting between representatives from Russia and Ukraine:

"First, while Azerbaijan is interested in close partnership relations with Russia, official Baku continues to support Ukraine’s territorial integrity as before. Official Baku does not recognize Russia’s annexation of Crimea or the occupation of Eastern Ukrainian lands. The phrase 'we strongly support the territorial integrity and sovereignty of Ukraine and all countries' said by Ilham Aliyev at the forum in Italy reflects this.

Secondly, hundreds of thousands of Azerbaijanis live in both Russia and Ukraine, which could influence Azerbaijan's potential role as a mediator. Any future meetings between Russian and Ukrainian representatives in Baku will depend on the desires of Kyiv and Moscow. Azerbaijan has no aspirations to offer a peace plan to the parties. Azerbaijan may simply serve as a venue for discussions. In this context, Ilham Aliyev’s last sentence is significant: 'If Azerbaijan’s participation is required, we are ready.