EU Leaders Steer Armenia-Azerbaijan Peace Talks Toward Brussels
In recent discussions, Charles Michel, who chairs the European Council, outlined a sequence of high level conversations that brought together the leaders of Armenia and Azerbaijan alongside Germany and France, plus senior representatives from the European Union. These talks focused on advancing the peace process between Yerevan and Baku and shaping a framework for a lasting settlement. According to the report from Trend, the dialogue has produced a concrete step: a new face-to-face meeting between the president of Azerbaijan, Ilham Aliyev, and Armenia’s prime minister, Nikol Pashinyan, was scheduled as a follow up to the latest exchanges.
During the brief remarks, Michel emphasized that the discussions touched on several core elements necessary for progress. He noted that communication channels between the two sides need to remain open, and that the delineation of borders is a critical issue to resolve. The peace treaty itself was described as a central topic, one that could set the terms for a more stable regional arrangement and reduce the risk of renewed tensions. The comments suggested that the current round served as a strong preparation for a forthcoming negotiation in Brussels, with a target date set for July 21, indicating momentum within the diplomatic track.
Michel described the meeting as part of an ongoing effort to move the dialogue forward in a structured format. He indicated a preference for continuing the quintuple format, which brings together the two national leaders alongside key EU representatives. This approach would help maintain coherence in the deliberations and ensure that the various positions are understood within a single, shared framework. The venue for the next round is anticipated to be Brussels, a city long associated with European diplomacy and with the coordination of EU policy toward the South Caucasus. There is also mention of broader regional participation, including invitations to other partners who can lend support to the peace process. The EU signaled its readiness to invest the necessary political capital, diplomatic effort, and practical measures needed to move the negotiations closer to a durable agreement between Armenia and Azerbaijan.
On a related note, President Aliyev has publicly indicated that a peace agreement between Baku and Yerevan could be reached in the near term. This willingness to finalize the framework reflects a shared sense of urgency among the regional players and their international partners. While the details of the draft treaty have not been disclosed in full, the discussions have laid the groundwork for concrete proposals that could be presented at the Brussels meeting. The convergence of positions in these talks helps create the conditions for a tangible, verifiable ceasefire and a pathway to normalizing relations over time. Observers highlight the importance of continued engagement at the highest levels to sustain momentum and translate dialogue into practical steps on the ground.