Ukrainian Minister of Internal Affairs Ivan Vygivsky held a telephone conversation with Azerbaijani Minister of Internal Affairs Vilayat Eyvazov, according to the press service of the Ukrainian Ministry of Internal Affairs.
“We discussed our partnership in the field of law enforcement. The key areas of cooperation are combating organized and transnational crime, cybersecurity, and the fight against fraud, as well as strengthening practical cooperation,” Vygivsky said following the conversation.
During the talks, the head of the Ukrainian ministry also briefed his counterpart on the current situation in the country, particularly regarding the latest Russian shelling of civilian infrastructure and attacks on the civilian population.
The parties paid special attention to joint humanitarian initiatives, particularly in the areas of healthcare, rehabilitation, and social support for the families of Ukrainian defenders.
“In the past year alone, the Republic of Azerbaijan has hosted two groups of high school students from the Ministry of Internal Affairs. The students had the opportunity to learn about the country’s culture and history and broaden their horizons. In recent years, our units have also received humanitarian demining equipment and technology from Azerbaijan that ensures uninterrupted operations during power outages. We are grateful to the Government of the Republic of Azerbaijan for its support of Ukraine and assistance to the Ministry of Internal Affairs. We agreed to strengthen our partnership,” Vygivsky concluded.
AZERBAIJAN, COOPERATION, Ministry of Internal Affairs, SECURITY, UKRAINE
Azerbaijan intends to increase electricity exports to neighboring countries and enter the European energy market, said the country’s president, Ilham Aliyev.
“By expanding our export capabilities to neighboring countries, we will also enter the European market. After all, we have already entered the European market with our oil and gas, but we want to enter it with electricity as well,” Aliyev said in an interview with the Azerbaijani state television channel AzTV.
According to him, the only route for supplying electricity to Europe currently runs through Georgia and Turkey, but Azerbaijan intends to expand the number of export routes. In this regard, a feasibility study for the Black Sea Energy project has already been prepared.
In addition, in November 2024, as part of COP29, Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, and Uzbekistan signed an agreement to lay an electrical cable along the bottom of the Caspian Sea.
“Azerbaijan will establish itself as a country that generates, receives, transmits, and exports electricity,” Aliyev said.
He also noted that the capacity of solar power plants in the Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic (NAR) could reach 500 MW, and up to 1 GW in the future.
“The main issue here is export capacity. To achieve this, of course, negotiations must be held with the relevant authorities in the respective countries, and these are already underway,” the president said.
At the same time, Aliyev noted that the existing power transmission lines from the NAR to Iran and Turkey have limited capacity, which needs to be increased.
“That is, for exporting 500 megawatts—or even 1,000 megawatts—of electricity, there are currently two routes: one to Turkey and the other to Iran. But in the future, this could also include Europe,” he said.
The head of state added that Azerbaijan’s plans to export electricity are in line with the interests of the countries “surrounding us.”
“It’s just that coordination efforts here must be carried out properly, at the necessary level, and negotiations must be accelerated. I can say that negotiations on this matter are currently underway with both Turkey and Iran. It’s too early to say anything for sure,” the president said.
Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andriy Sibiga stated that Kyiv wants to restore pre-war levels of bilateral trade with Azerbaijan, which currently stands at about $600 million.
According to a correspondent for “Interfax-Ukraine,” Sibiga made this remark at a joint press conference with his Azerbaijani counterpart, Jeyhun Bayramov
“We have set ourselves the goal of returning to pre-war levels in terms of trade. We have now reached about $600 million,” said the minister.
In this context, the foreign ministers agreed to work toward holding the next meeting of the Ukrainian-Azerbaijani Intergovernmental Commission on Economic Cooperation in Ukraine.
The parties held detailed talks on the bilateral and international agenda, Ukraine’s preparations for the winter season, and strengthening energy security in the region.
“Over the past year and this year, we have seen a new dynamic in the strategic partnership between Ukraine and Azerbaijan, with increased contacts at all levels. We view your visit as yet another element of this new and positive dynamic,” noted the Ukrainian diplomat.
The parties paid particular attention to the development of mutually beneficial economic, investment, and humanitarian cooperation. Sibiga stated that Ukraine values investments by Azerbaijani companies and looks forward to expanding their presence and implementing new joint projects.
The diplomats also discussed regional security issues in the South Caucasus and the Middle East. Andriy Sibiga briefed his Azerbaijani counterpart on Ukraine’s peace efforts and highlighted Azerbaijan’s important role in promoting peace and ensuring regional stability.
“We appreciate Azerbaijan’s principled stance in support of Ukraine’s territorial integrity and sovereignty. Ukraine has also always supported and continues to support Azerbaijan’s sovereignty and territorial integrity. This is a constant in our relations,” emphasized the head of Ukraine’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Sybiga expressed gratitude to Azerbaijan, President Ilham Aliyev, and the entire Azerbaijani people for their assistance to Ukraine from the very first days of the full-scale invasion.
“The restoration of civilian infrastructure in Irpin, humanitarian aid, equipment for energy facilities, and much more. We will always remember this,” he assured.
Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Azerbaijan, and Ukraine have agreed to introduce unified transit permits for freight transport. This was reported by the press service of the Ministry of Transport.
The relevant intergovernmental agreement was signed on May 15 of this year at a meeting of the TRACECA Intergovernmental Commission in Astana. It provides for the introduction of a single transit permit form in all five countries.
The document will allow carriers to cross the territories of several participating states using a single form without additional documents. The decision aims to eliminate administrative barriers and speed up transit.
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On April 27, an international literary and artistic event titled “Lesya Ukrainka in the Azerbaijani Cultural Space” took place in the capital to mark the 155th anniversary of the poet’s birth, according to the organizers.
“The project demonstrates the interconnection between cultural diplomacy and its impact on humanitarian support for Ukraine,” said Marina Goncharuk, director of the Ukrainian-Turkic Center, in a comment to the agency.
According to reports, the event featured the first-ever comprehensive study of Lesya Ukrainka’s literary presence in Azerbaijan, including the history of the monument to the poet in Lokbatan (Baku), as well as an overview of translations of her works into Azerbaijani, publications, and research by local authors.
A separate part of the program was the presentation of the fairy-tale drama “The Forest Song” in Azerbaijani, published with the support of the Ukrainian Book Institute.
According to Goncharuk, cultural cooperation between Ukraine and Azerbaijan has a practical dimension.
“Back in 2003, Irpin and Lokbatan signed a memorandum of cooperation, and as early as 2004, monuments to Lesya Ukrainka and Zarifa Aliyeva were unveiled. Subsequently, this cooperation evolved into humanitarian aid from Azerbaijan for the restoration of social infrastructure in Irpin,” she said.
The head of the Ukrainian representative office of NEQSOL Holding, Volodymyr Lavrenchuk, noted that the translation of the poet’s works into Azerbaijani is a continuation of cultural and value-based ties.
“Lesya Ukrainka is a symbol of strength of spirit, freedom, and Ukraine’s European identity, so supporting the translation of her works is a natural step for the company,” he noted.
Jalal Huseynov, President of the Ukrainian-Azerbaijani Business Association “Terezi,” emphasized the importance of cultural dialogue.
“The highest level of mutual understanding is the word,” he noted.
According to reports, the event was also attended by Olena Odynoka, Deputy Director of the Ukrainian Book Institute, who highlighted the role of translations in intercultural dialogue.
“Translations are bridges between nations; they are what enable us to better understand one another,” she said.
A greeting from Azerbaijani poet and translator Salam Sarvan was read aloud during the event.
The artistic program included performances by Ukrainian artists featuring dance and vocal numbers representing Azerbaijani culture, as well as a performance of the Azerbaijani national anthem on the bandura.
An exhibition of artistic collages by Maria Zamay, a student at Mariupol State University, was also presented.
Following the official portion of the event, guests were treated to a traditional Azerbaijani tea ceremony and refreshments.
The event was attended by representatives of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine, the diplomatic corps, cultural figures, and the media. Partners included the Radisson Blu Hotel Kyiv City Centre, NEQSOL Holding, SOCAR Energy Ukraine, and other organizations.
During a government visit, Azerbaijan provided Ukraine with five passenger buses as humanitarian aid for community needs, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andriy Sibiga announced.
“Since 2022, Azerbaijan has repeatedly contributed to supporting the Ukrainian people. In particular, it has provided humanitarian aid worth over $45 million, including powerful generators, transformers, and critical equipment that helps maintain the operation of our energy system amid constant attacks,” he wrote on the social media platform X.
The minister noted that the country is also providing support to Ukrainian children.
“More than 500 Ukrainian children have participated in rehabilitation programs in Azerbaijan—this is especially valuable in the context of war. We deeply appreciate this solidarity, as it helps Ukraine stay on its feet and move forward,” Sibiga noted.
