BAKU, Azerbaijan, April 27. Relations between
Azerbaijan and Ukraine have significantly deepened in recent years,
in political, economic, and humanitarian areas, political analyst
Azer Garayev told Trend.
According to him, these relations are not limited to official
statements and signed documents, but also reflect a model of
sustainable partnership built on real cooperation projects, mutual
support, and common interests.
He said that the recent working visit of Ukrainian President
Volodymyr Zelenskyy to Azerbaijan is of particular importance in
this regard and demonstrates that relations between the two
countries have entered a new stage.
"The meetings and discussions held in Gabala showed that the
dialogue between Baku and Kyiv is no longer episodic in nature, but
is developing systematically and purposefully. As President of
Azerbaijan, Ilham Aliyev, emphasized, the holding of seven meetings
at the presidential level over the past four years demonstrates the
dynamic nature of relations. These meetings are not just
protocol-based, but are accompanied by discussions and decisions
aimed at specific results.
The solid foundation of political relations rests on the
strategic partnership documents signed in previous years. Within
the framework of these documents, the parties have always supported
each other's sovereignty, territorial integrity, and inviolability
of their borders. This principled position is especially important
in the modern system of international relations. In the words of
President Ilham Aliyev, "Azerbaijan and Ukraine support—and will
continue to support—each other’s sovereignty and territorial
integrity in all international organizations". This approach shows
that the parties are acting from a common position not only
bilaterally, but also at the global level," Garayev noted.
According to him, the energy sector remains one of the main
directions of Azerbaijani-Ukrainian cooperation.
"Azerbaijan's energy resources and Ukraine's transit
opportunities open up broad prospects for mutually beneficial
cooperation in this area. The long-term activity of the State Oil
Company of Azerbaijan in Ukraine is one of the practical results of
this cooperation. At the same time, new investment projects and
joint initiatives are being discussed, which indicates the parties'
intention to cooperate more closely in the field of energy
security.
Economic cooperation is not limited to energy alone. The
increase in trade turnover, the expansion of cooperation in the
agricultural, industrial, and investment sectors, prove that these
relations have acquired a multifaceted character. The fact that the
trade turnover between the two countries currently exceeds $500
million is an important indicator, but the parties note that there
is great potential for further increasing this figure. In this
regard, the activities of the Intergovernmental Commission play a
special role and will serve as a platform for more intensive
cooperation in the future.
One of the important areas that has attracted attention in
recent years is military-technical cooperation. Both Azerbaijan and
Ukraine have made significant progress in the defense industry, and
there are wide opportunities for exchanging experience in this
area. President Zelenskyy also emphasized the importance of
cooperation in this area, noting that Ukraine is ready to share the
experience gained in wartime and develop joint production projects
that look promising. This cooperation is of great importance not
only in terms of strengthening defense capabilities, but also in
terms of technological development," the analyst said.
Garayev pointed out that the humanitarian sphere is one of the
most sensitive and at the same time most effective directions of
Azerbaijani-Ukrainian relations.
"The humanitarian assistance provided by Azerbaijan to Ukraine,
especially the support for children affected by the war, is highly
appreciated. The President of Ukraine expressed his gratitude for
this assistance and said, "More than five hundred Ukrainian
children are here, and we are grateful to you for this humanitarian
support". Such initiatives serve to strengthen humanitarian ties
between the two peoples and bring relations closer not only at the
interstate but also at the peoples' level.
At the same time, cooperation in the field of education and
culture is also noteworthy. Ukrainian higher education institutions
have been an attractive place for Azerbaijani students for many
years. This is an important factor contributing to the further
strengthening of relations between the two countries in the future.
These bridges built between young people form the social basis of
strategic partnership in the long term," he explained.
The analyst underscored that, against the backdrop of current
geopolitical realities, cooperation between Azerbaijan and Ukraine
is also gaining importance in a broader regional and global
context. Cooperation between the two countries on issues such as
energy security, transport corridors, and food security is not
limited only to their national interests, but is also becoming a
factor of stability and development for the wider region.
"As a result, Azerbaijani-Ukrainian relations today are a model
of a multifaceted and dynamically developing partnership. Political
dialogue, economic cooperation, energy projects, humanitarian
initiatives, and mutual activity in the field of security build
these relations on a solid foundation. Continuous contacts and
mutual support at the presidential level create confidence that
this partnership will further strengthen in the future. Zelenskyy's
visit to Azerbaijan symbolizes the next stage of this development,
indicating that friendship and cooperation between the two
countries will further deepen," Garayev added.
