Zelensky Arrives in Azerbaijan to Sign Five Bilateral Agreements on Defense and Energy

The Ukrainian leader’s historic visit to Baku marks a significant pivot in regional diplomacy, focusing on drone technology cooperation and investments from SOCAR. Make us preferred on Google Share Facebook X (Twitter) LinkedIn Bluesky Email Copy Copied President Volodymyr Zelensky and Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev, April 25. (Photo by Volodymyr Zelensky/Telegram) Content Share Facebook X (Twitter) LinkedIn Bluesky Email Copy Copied Flip Make us preferred on Google President Volodymyr Zelensky has arrived in Baku for his first visit to Azerbaijan since the start of the full-scale Russian invasion , signaling an intensification of security and economic ties between the two nations. Speaking during a national telethon on Saturday, April 25, Zelensky announced that his team is working to finalize five bilateral state agreements. A key focus of the high-level talks with President Ilham Aliyev will be defense cooperation, particularly in the field of drone technology. Follow our coverage of the war on the @Kyivpost_official . “I think today we will sign a relevant agreement with Azerbaijan,” Zelensky stated. Additionally, the President highlighted energy cooperation and potential investments from the Azerbaijani state oil company SOCAR as top priorities for the mission. This diplomatic push follows a period of complex relations between Baku and Moscow. While Azerbaijan signed a strategic partnership with Russia just days before the 2022 invasion, ties were severely strained in December 2024 after Russian air defenses shot down an Azerbaijani AZAL passenger plane, killing 38 people. Although a recent declaration between Moscow and Baku settled compensation issues by labeling the incident an “unintentional action,” President Aliyev has notably avoided traveling to Russia since the crash. Other Topics of Interest Zelensky Heads to Saudi Arabia to Further Security Talks A day after an informal EU meeting in Cyprus, the Ukrainian head of state is expected to discuss security, energy, and infrastructure with Saudi Arabia, following up on recent security deals. The visit also coincides with a significant diplomatic win for Baku in the European Union. On Wednesday, five Azerbaijani tankers belonging to SOCAR and the State Shipping Company were removed from the EU’s 20th sanctions package , after having been initially targeted for alleged involvement with Russia’s shadow fleet. Kyiv Post is Ukraine’s first and oldest English news organization since 1995. Its international market reach of 97% outside of Ukraine makes it truly Ukraine’s Global – and most reliable – Voice.