In a recent phone discussion with Russian President Vladimir Putin, Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan conveyed Yerevan’s preference for direct talks with Baku at this stage. The report, attributed to RIA Novosti, frames the exchange as a clear indication of Armenia’s current diplomatic approach and its willingness to pursue bilateral negotiations rather than broader formats for the moment.
Pashinyan added that Armenia intends to continue operating within a bilateral framework while leaving room for alternative formats if circumstances evolve. He stressed that the choice of format could shift depending on the specific issue and the context in which it arises, suggesting a pragmatic stance rather than a rigid plan. The emphasis was on proceeding with direct dialogue as the default path, with openness to other avenues if conditions require a broader discussion, according to the same source.
On June 27, Azerbaijan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced the eleventh package of proposals aimed at shaping a peace agreement between Armenia and Azerbaijan. Subsequently, Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev indicated that 80 to 90 percent of the proposed text had reached a consensus between the two sides. He also noted that for the peace process to move forward, the Armenian side would need to remove provisions and conditions related to Nagorno-Karabakh from the draft text, a stance reported by Azerbaijani officials and corroborated through subsequent briefings.
Further developments emerged on July 21 when Aliyev attributed the difficulty of signing a peace treaty to constitutional concerns within Armenia. He asserted that changes to Armenia’s constitution would be necessary before any agreement could be formally signed, framing constitutional alignment as a prerequisite for progress in the talks. This perspective reflects a broader expectation from Baku that domestic legal reforms must accompany international agreements, as documented in contemporaneous statements from Azerbaijani leadership.
Earlier, Russian leadership signaled a continued interest in helping resolve the dispute between Baku and Yerevan. President Putin reiterated Russia’s readiness to participate in mediating the discussions, signaling Moscow’s ongoing role in the regional security landscape and its potential to influence future negotiation formats, as reported through official channels and subsequent reiterations by Russian officials.