On January 22, Ukraine’s President Volodymir Zelensky met for discussions with Azerbaijan’s President Ilham Aliyev.  Ukraine might now be looking to capitalize on a surge in anti-Russian sentiment in Azerbaijan following the downing of Azerbaijani Airlines Flight 8243 near Aktau in Kazakhstan, seemingly due to a Russian surface-to-air missile.

Following the meeting, Zelensky expressed his condolences for the crashed flight and stated that “the evidence from the crash site is clear, and it is essential to pressure Russia to compel it to tell the truth.”  Aliyev went further, stating that the plane had been affected by electronic interference and re-stated his belief that it had been fired upon – something Ukrainian intelligence has likewise reported.  President Zelensky additionally stated that he was hoping to deepen bi-lateral ties with Azerbaijan, and thanked Aliyev for “all the assistance Azerbaijan has provided to Ukraine.”

Azerbaijan’s relations with Ukraine and Russia are complicated.  Azerbaijan has not endorsed Russia’s war in Ukraine and has spoken out in support of Ukraine’s territorial integrity, having signed a joint declaration on territorial integrity with Ukraine in 2022.  Azerbaijan has also benefitted greatly from Europe drawing down its use of Russian energy resources and the build-out of the Middle Corridor, which bypasses Russia.  Since the beginning of the war, Azerbaijan has provided Ukraine with humanitarian aid, as well as energy supplies and technological assistance.  There is evidence of Azerbaijan providing military gear to Ukraine, but Azerbaijani officials have denied this. 

Yet, Baku has also maintained a working relationship with Moscow. Azerbaijan has allowed, albeit without much apparent enthusiasm, Russian-Iranian rail transit through its territory and hosted Russia’s President Vladamir Putin for an official visit in 2024.  

But the crash of the Azerbaijan Airlines flight has produced unprecedented public criticism of Russia by Azerbaijani elites, including President Aliyev.  Zelensky might now be hoping to build on this momentum and work to drive the wedge deeper and further isolate Russia. The meeting speaks to this possible interest, alongside a general interest in collaboration between Baku and Kyiv.