Azerbaijan and Ukraine sign deals, boost defence and energy cooperation

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is in Azerbaijan for talks with President Ilham Aliyev, holding meetings in Gabala on Saturday (25 April) during a working visit to the country.

President Ilham Aliyev and President Volodymyr Zelenskyy delivered press statements in Gabala on April 25 following their meeting.

Aliyev said cooperation between Azerbaijan and Ukraine rests on a “very strong political foundation”, citing strategic partnership agreements signed in 2008 and 2011.

“These documents reflect mutual respect for our countries’ territorial integrity, sovereignty, and the inviolability of borders. Azerbaijan and Ukraine support—and will continue to support—each other’s sovereignty and territorial integrity in all international organizations,” he said.

Aliyev said the two countries were successfully cooperating across multiple sectors, including energy, trade and military-technical fields.

“There have been achievements here — SOCAR has been successfully operating in Ukraine for many years — and at the same time, there are very promising prospects and joint projects,” he said.

He added that trade turnover between the two countries had exceeded half a billion dollars and expressed hope it would continue to grow.

Aliyev also highlighted potential for deeper cooperation in defence and industry, including joint production.

“The military-industrial complex is developing in both Azerbaijan and Ukraine, and there are excellent opportunities for joint production,” he said.

Zelenskyy thanked Aliyev for hosting the visit and said Ukraine continued to support Azerbaijan’s territorial integrity, noting the same support from Baku.

“Of course, this is my first visit to Azerbaijan since the war began, and I have come here with my delegation,” Zelenskyy said.

He said the two sides had signed six agreements and identified security and defence as key areas for cooperation.

“Ukraine has demonstrated its strength of resistance arising from the conditions of war, and we would like to share our expert knowledge,” he said, adding that Ukrainian specialists were already working with Azerbaijani counterparts.

Zelenskyy also thanked Azerbaijan for its support during the war, particularly in the energy sector.

“During such a very difficult period, we received 11 aid packages from Azerbaijan. We express our gratitude for this assistance,” he said.

He also expressed gratitude for humanitarian support for Ukrainian children affected by the war.

“More than five hundred Ukrainian children are here, and we are grateful to you for this humanitarian support,” he said.

Zelenskyy said Ukraine was ready to hold peace talks with Russia in Azerbaijan if Moscow agreed to diplomacy.

“We have had negotiations in trilateral and other formats. Some took place in Türkiye, and later we met with our American partners in Geneva; we would also like to conduct our negotiations in Azerbaijan — provided that the Russian side also chooses this diplomacy,” he said.

He added that Ukraine aimed to deepen cooperation with Azerbaijan in energy, security and other sectors.

Zelenskyy also said Russian strikes on Ukraine were continuing, targeting infrastructure and causing casualties.

“Unfortunately, some individuals have already lost their lives today, and there are those who have been injured,” he said.

Zelenskyy’s visit follows a trip to Saudi Arabia on Friday, his second to the country in a month, where he held talks with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.

The Presidents of Azerbaijan and Ukraine also held a brief conversation following their statements.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Azerbaijan's President Ilham Aliyev in Gabala, Azerbaijan on 25 April, 2026.

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This marks President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s latest visit to Azerbaijan, having first travelled there in 2019 shortly after his election.

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