News - Ushakov: Putin and Aliyev will discuss situation in Karabakh and Russian peacekeeping mission

Russian President Vladimir Putin is scheduled to meet with Azerbaijani leader Ilham Aliyev in the frameworks of the meeting of the Council of Heads of the CIS states to be held օn October 13 in Kyrgyzstan, Yuri Ushakov, assistant to the Russian President has said. Тhe two leaders will discuss the situation in Nagorno-Karabakh and the issue of Russian peacekeepers, including the possibility of their further use in ensuring the possible return of Armenians to Nagorno- Karabakh. "After lunch, a conversation with the President of Azerbaijan Aliyev is planned. I can say that we attach great importance to this contact; Russian-Azerbaijani relations are at a high level and are developing dynamically. The presidents will exchange ideas on future development prospects in the context of implementation of joint initiatives in the fields of economy, transport and logistics, energy and industry," Ushakov told reporters. "And, of course, issues related to the situation around Karabakh will be discussed. On the agenda is the peaceful integration of Karabakh Armenians into the legal framework of Azerbaijan, respecting internationally recognized rights and freedoms, and the Russian peacekeeping contingent is ready to contribute. We hope that our president will discuss the situation around the Russian peacekeepers together with President Aliyev," he added. He noted that the mandate of the Russian peacekeeping contingent expires in December 2025. "And here various options for the possible further use of our troops will be considered, including in the context of ensuring the possible return of Karabakh Armenians after the well-known events in September," said Ushakov.