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Ukraine and Azerbaijan
In late 2024 and mid-2025, a series of diplomatic incidents and targeted attacks on Azerbaijani energy infrastructure in Ukraine strained relations between Baku and Moscow, pushing Azerbaijan closer to Ukraine.
While officially neutral, Azerbaijan has provided significant humanitarian and energy assistance to Ukraine since the 2022 Russian invasion, a policy that balances its strategic partnership with Kyiv and its complex relationship with Russia
Azerbaijan’s strategic position
Balancing act: Azerbaijan has a multifaceted foreign policy, navigating its relationships with Russia, the West, and its key ally, Turkey. The country has avoided condemning Russia’s invasion of Ukraine but has consistently supported Ukraine’s territorial integrity, a policy that reflects its own history with disputed territory.
Waning Russian influence: As Russia became preoccupied with the war in Ukraine, its ability to project power in the South Caucasus decreased. Azerbaijan took advantage of this “window of opportunity” to reassert full control over Nagorno-Karabakh in September 2023, dissolving the ethnic Armenian statelet despite the presence of Russian peacekeepers.
Shift toward the West: Recent tensions with Moscow have prompted Azerbaijan to strengthen ties with Western countries, particularly in the energy sector. This has been noted by the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace as an effort by Baku to portray itself as a strategic partner to the West in the global confrontation with Russia.
Escalating tensions with Russia (2024–2025)
Growing friction: By late 2024, diplomatic relations between Azerbaijan and Russia had soured following a passenger plane crash and a series of arrests and counter-arrests of their respective nationals.
Attacks on energy infrastructure: In July and August 2025, Russia targeted Azerbaijani-owned oil and gas facilities in Ukraine’s Odesa region, including a depot belonging to the State Oil Company of Azerbaijan (SOCAR). The strikes damaged energy infrastructure vital for importing Azerbaijani gas into Ukraine.
Threat of military aid: Following the attacks, Azerbaijan threatened to lift its unofficial arms embargo on Ukraine if Russia continued to target Azerbaijani assets. The threat led to a phone call between Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, during which Aliyev condemned the strikes.
Delivery of former jets: In September 2025, reports emerged that Ukraine was operating former Azerbaijani MiG-29 fighter jets, suggesting that Azerbaijan may have already supplied military equipment to Ukraine.
Azerbaijan’s support for Ukraine
Humanitarian aid: Since 2022, Azerbaijan has sent multiple shipments of humanitarian aid, including food, medicine, and electrical equipment, totaling over $44 million by August 2025. In August and September 2025, Azerbaijan delivered an additional $2 million worth of electrical equipment to help Ukraine repair energy infrastructure damaged by Russian attacks.
Energy cooperation: Beyond humanitarian aid, Azerbaijani state company SOCAR has provided free fuel to Ukrainian ambulances and emergency services since the start of the full-scale invasion. Ukraine is also increasing imports of Azerbaijani gas via the Trans-Balkan pipeline.
Reconstruction and rehabilitation: Azerbaijan has committed to participating in Ukraine’s post-war reconstruction, funding the restoration of a school in the town of Irpin, which was damaged during the war. It has also provided mine-clearing equipment and psychological rehabilitation for Ukrainian children.
Political support: Azerbaijan’s leaders have repeatedly affirmed their support for Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity. In June 2025, officials from both countries met to discuss deepening their strategic partnership.
Azerbaijan’s economic benefits
Energy transit hub: The war in Ukraine has increased Europe’s reliance on non-Russian energy, elevating Azerbaijan’s importance as an energy supplier and transit country.
Trade expansion: Trade relations between Ukraine and Azerbaijan have expanded. In the first seven months of 2025, Ukraine’s exports to Azerbaijan increased by 8.6%.— Michael Novakhov (@mikenov) Sep 5, 2025
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