Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev stated that former senior officials from Germany and Russia convened in Baku this month to discuss potential avenues for ending the war in Ukraine. Speaking to reporters in Berlin during a joint press conference with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, Aliyev indicated that the meeting occurred on Azerbaijani soil without his knowledge. While declining to comment on specific details due to his absence, Aliyev suggested that flight data confirmed the secret gathering took place.
He stated that if the objective of the meeting was to advance peace between Russia and Ukraine, such an effort would be welcome. German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, however, distanced his government from the event. When questioned about the meeting, Merz stated, “I am not aware of any such meeting,” clarifying that his government was not involved in its organization.
Media reports suggest that the gathering in Baku involved an unofficial German delegation. Attendees reportedly included Ronald Pofalla, former chief of staff to former German Chancellor Angela Merkel, and Matthias Platzeck, the former prime minister of Brandenburg. This group reportedly met with several associates of Russian President Vladimir Putin.
The Russian contingent, according to reports, featured Valery Fadeev, chairman of the Russian Presidential Council for Civil Society and Human Rights, and Viktor Zubkov, former deputy prime minister of Russia and current board chairman of Gazprom.
Topics: #german #baku #meeting
