Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov stated that Azerbaijan appears prepared to sign a peace agreement with Armenia, though the Russian minister could not confirm Yerevan’s current stance. This assessment comes from Lavrov during a press conference summarized by RIA News. The remarks suggest a nuanced willingness from Baku to pursue a peace accord on Russian soil, while the degree of Armenian readiness remains unclear to the Russian foreign policy chief.
Lavrov noted that Azerbaijan has signaled a real possibility of moving forward with such an agreement on Russian territory. He added that he did not know how ready Yerevan was for this step, even though Armenia has previously sent signals to Yerevan about its openness to discussing a settlement. The foreign minister stressed that a clear assessment of Armenia’s position requires careful consideration of the signals and diplomatic messages that have emanated from Yerevan over time.
The minister also pointed to a current stall in the Nagorno-Karabakh peace process, attributing the stalemate to Armenia’s response to Western recommendations. Lavrov argued that certain Western countries appear to be working to hinder the tripartite framework involving Russia, Azerbaijan, and Armenia from being implemented. Such a view emphasizes the perceived external pressures that Moscow believes are shaping the negotiations and the strategic calculations in Yerevan and Baku alike.
In mid September Azerbaijani authorities announced a local operation in Nagorno-Karabakh, describing the objective as the suppression of large-scale provocations, disarmament, and the withdrawal of Armenian military units from the region. A ceasefire was reached the following day with the mediation of Russian peacekeepers, and talks aimed at a durable settlement have continued since then. These developments form a crucial context for evaluating any potential peace framework and the roles that international mediators, including Moscow, might play in advancing a lasting agreement.
On January 10, President Ilham Aliyev indicated that there was no immediate necessity to withdraw mediators to finalize a peace accord with Armenia. According to TASS reports citing the Azerbaijani leader, the envisaged agreement should exist between two sovereign states and be grounded in mutual recognition and stability. This stance suggests a preference for a bilateral framework, while still acknowledging the broader regional security architecture in which Russia has long positioned itself as a key actor. The evolving position reflects ongoing negotiations and the delicate balance each side seeks between concessions and strategic guarantees that address security concerns and national interests. In Armenia, observers have noted a perceived slowdown in progress toward a broader compromise, underscoring the fragility of talks and the influence of domestic and external factors on the peace process. The overall trajectory points to a landscape where diplomacy remains active but uncertain, with regional powers like Russia aiming to shape outcomes in ways that balance competing narratives and security imperatives for all involved.