In a bid to facilitate peace negotiations between Armenia and Azerbaijan, Russia has extended another invitation to Armenian Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan to visit Moscow. This move comes amidst ongoing efforts to broker a potential peace treaty between the two nations.
According to Maria Zakharova, the spokeswoman for the Russian Foreign Ministry, Mirzoyan has been invited multiple times since last September to discuss the prospects of a peace treaty. Zakharova emphasized that the issue has been a topic of discussion during bilateral engagements at various levels, with the most recent invitation extended just days ago.
Moscow has been persistent in its efforts to host high-level peace talks between Armenia and Azerbaijan, aiming to sideline Western involvement and reassert its influence in the negotiation process. The Russian Foreign Ministry previously criticized Armenian leadership for disregarding these offers, cautioning that prioritizing Western mediation could exacerbate challenges for the Armenian people.
Highlighting recent developments, a senior Russian diplomat urged Armenia to resume Russian-mediated negotiations with Azerbaijan based on prior agreements reached by the leaders of the three countries. However, Armenian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov pointed out that while Azerbaijan has expressed readiness to sign a peace treaty in Russia, there has been no explicit confirmation of this stance from Baku.
Responding to Lavrov’s assertion, Mirzoyan refrained from confirming Armenia’s willingness to engage in peace talks hosted by Russia, particularly in light of Azerbaijan’s objections to U.S. and European Union mediation.
Tensions between Russia and Armenia have escalated since the 2020 Nagorno-Karabakh war, with Armenia accusing Moscow of failing to uphold security commitments as Azerbaijan reclaimed territory. Despite these strains, Zakharova reiterated Russia’s commitment to Armenia, underscoring its significant role in preventing a worse outcome for the country.
The invitation extended to Mirzoyan underscores Russia’s continued efforts to broker peace and stability in the region. However, the willingness of all parties to engage in meaningful dialogue and negotiate a lasting peace remains uncertain amidst ongoing geopolitical complexities.
