Zelensky makes first visit to Azerbaijan since Russia's full-scale invasion
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Editor's note: This is a developing story and is being updated.
President Volodymyr Zelensky arrived in Azerbaijan to meet his Azerbaijani counterpart, Ilham Aliyev, presidential spokesperson Serhii Nykyforov said on April 25.
Aliyev welcomed the Ukrainian leader in the city of Gabala as their meeting began, according to Azerbaijan's Presidential Office.
Zelensky is expected to hold talks on "security and energy", an undisclosed Ukrainian official told AFP. The two countries are working on five bilateral cooperation agreements, Zelensky said earlier.
The trip marks Zelensky's first official visit to the South Caucasus since Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022.
It comes after the president's April 24 visit to Saudi Arabia, part of Kyiv's push to strengthen security and drone-technology cooperation with Gulf countries.
Zelensky previously hinted that Ukraine eyes similar deals with countries in the South Caucasus.
"(The president) has just received a briefing from Ukrainian military personnel, who are sharing Ukraine's experience and expertise in defending the skies," Nykyforov told journalists during the visit.
Kyiv has maintained good relations with Azerbaijan throughout the all-out war. Baku has provided humanitarian and economic aid and assisted in Ukraine's reconstruction efforts, namely in the energy sector.
Azerbaijan has simultaneously maintained a close partnership with Russia, though ties deteriorated after Russian air defenses downed an Azerbaijani airliner in December 2024.
Since then, Moscow has sought to repair relations with Baku, pledging a thorough investigation and compensation for the crash that killed 38 people.
Zelensky was rumored to plan a visit to Azerbaijan and Armenia in 2024, but the trip was reportedly canceled.
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