According to a survey conducted in March 2026 by the research firm Active Group in collaboration with the Experts Club information and analytical center, Ukrainians’ attitudes toward Azerbaijan show a noticeable decline in positive sentiment and an increase in the proportion of neutral assessments. Overall, 44.3% of respondents expressed a positive attitude toward this country, whereas in August 2025 this figure stood at 56.7%. At the same time, the share of negative assessments rose slightly—from 5.7% to 6.5%—which indicates not a sharp deterioration in perception, but rather a shift in responses toward neutrality.
The breakdown of responses confirms this trend. The share of those who view Azerbaijan entirely positively stands at 14.2%, while another 30.1% selected the “mostly positive” option. At the same time, the largest category was the neutral position—47.1% of respondents. This means that for a significant portion of Ukrainians, Azerbaijan is not a country with a clearly defined emotional or political image.
Negative assessments remain relatively low, although they show some growth. The share of “mostly negative” attitudes stands at 4.9%, and “completely negative” at 1.6%. The share of those who were undecided is 2.1%, indicating a sufficient level of awareness among respondents regarding this country, but at the same time—a lack of clear reference points for evaluation.
The trend over the past six months points to a decline in the level of emotional certainty regarding Azerbaijan. The drop in positive assessments by more than 12 percentage points is accompanied by a sharp rise in neutral views. This may indicate a weakening of the country’s media presence in the Ukrainian media landscape or a decline in the relevance of bilateral issues in public discourse.
Compared to European Union countries or Ukraine’s strategic partners, Azerbaijan is perceived much less unequivocally. The high proportion of neutral assessments means that public opinion regarding this country is less stable and more sensitive to external factors—whether informational, political, or economic.
“If we look at these results, we see that attitudes toward Azerbaijan are not negative, but they are becoming less defined. The decline in positive assessments is not due to an increase in criticism, but rather to a shift of some respondents into the neutral zone. This means that the further shaping of the country’s image will largely depend on its activity in the Ukrainian information and economic spheres,” noted Maksym Urakin, founder of the Experts Club information and analytical center.
Thus, the survey results indicate a gradual weakening of Azerbaijan’s positive image in Ukraine, which is not accompanied by a sharp rise in negative sentiment but manifests itself in an increase in the share of neutral assessments. This creates both challenges and opportunities: on the one hand, the country is losing some of its positive perception, and on the other, it retains the potential to restore it through more active engagement with Ukrainian society.
According to a study conducted by the Experts Club Information and Analytical Center based on data from the State Customs Service, Azerbaijan ranks 36th in total trade volume of goods with Ukraine as of December 31, 2025, with a figure of $511.2 million. At the same time, imports from Azerbaijan slightly exceed Ukrainian exports, resulting in a moderate trade deficit of $44.7 million.
The study was presented at the Interfax-Ukraine press center; the video can be viewed on the agency’s YouTube channel. The full version of the study can be found at this link on the Experts Club analytical center’s website.
ACTIVE GROUP, AZERBAIJAN, EXPERTS CLUB, Pozniy, SOCIOLOGY, SURVEY, UKRAINE, URAKIN
Azerbaijan has suspended transport across the state border with Iran and closed its airspace at the border. Earlier, Azerbaijan accused Iran of launching drone strikes on the territory of the Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic and said it reserved the right to take appropriate measures. The Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry reported that one drone hit the Nakhchivan airport terminal, while another fell near a school building in the village of Shakarabad. Two civilians were injured in the attack, and the airport buildings were damaged.
The Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry demanded that Tehran provide an explanation as soon as possible, conduct an investigation, and take measures to prevent similar incidents from recurring. The Iranian ambassador was summoned to the ministry to receive a note of protest.
Against the backdrop of the incident, regional media and expert commentators are discussing the possibility of invoking the mechanisms provided for in the Shusha Declaration on Alliance Relations between Azerbaijan and Turkey. The document stipulates that in the event of a threat or act of aggression by a third state, the parties shall hold joint consultations and provide each other with the necessary assistance in accordance with the UN Charter.
At the time of publication, there was no official announcement of the start of formal consultations on the Shusha Declaration, but Ankara and Baku maintain constant coordination on regional security issues, including at the level of the foreign ministries.
According to Serbian Economist, Azerbaijan has expressed its readiness to assist Montenegro in connecting to the Trans Adriatic Pipeline (TAP), said Dino Tutundzic, State Secretary of the Ministry of Energy and Mining of Montenegro, in an interview with Report.az. According to him, Podgorica considers the Ionian-Adriatic Pipeline (IAP) to be a strategic regional project that should connect Montenegro to TAP and, through it, to the Southern Gas Corridor and Caspian supplies.
Tutundzic said that Montenegro plans to intensify negotiations with neighboring countries – Croatia and Albania – and focus on preparing the infrastructure base, after which it will be possible to talk about gas delivery to end consumers. He also noted Azerbaijan’s interest in participating in Montenegro’s energy projects, including in the renewable energy segment.
The issue of connecting Montenegro to TAP has its own specific features: the country still makes virtually no use of natural gas, as it has no gas market or gas distribution network. This is evident from the report of the Energy Community Secretariat, which explicitly states that “there is no gas market in Montenegro” and “there is no gas network.”
TAP is part of the Southern Gas Corridor, connecting supplies from the Caspian region to European markets via Greece, Albania, and the Adriatic Sea, with access to Italy.
https://t.me/relocationrs/2379
According to Serbian Economist, the energy partnership between Belgrade and Baku is rapidly moving beyond symbolic diversification and beginning to transform into a separate supply chain capable of significantly influencing the balance of the Serbian gas market. Azerbaijan’s Deputy Minister of Energy Orkhan Zeynalov said that by the end of 2026 – early 2027, Azerbaijan could cover up to 20% of Serbia’s gas needs, which, according to him, directly strengthens energy security by reducing dependence on a single source.
The context is simple: Serbia has remained predominantly dependent on gas imports in recent years, and the issue of diversification has become part of a broader agenda, ranging from heating and electricity prices to negotiations with the EU on energy integration. Reuters previously estimated that Serbia receives about 80% of its gas from Russia, with alternative volumes currently serving as insurance and a bargaining chip.
The legal framework for the Azerbaijani route has already been established. The contract between SOCAR and Srbijagas, signed in November 2023, provides for the supply of up to 400 million cubic meters per year in 2024-2026, with the possibility of increasing volumes after 2027. At the same time, official statements by the governments of Serbia and Azerbaijan have recorded separate seasonal agreements for additional volumes during the winter period.
Actual deliveries from Azerbaijan began in 2024, but so far have remained small compared to the overall market. According to data cited by Azerbaijan’s State Statistics Committee, Serbia received about 72.6 million cubic meters of Azerbaijani gas between February and December 2024. For comparison, according to estimates by Azerbaijani and regional sources, in January-November 2025, supplies had already grown to 192 million cubic meters.
Why is Belgrade taking this more seriously than “just another contract”? Because gas is beginning to be linked to industrial projects. In mid-February 2026, the leaders of Serbia and Azerbaijan confirmed plans to build a 500 MW gas-fired power plant, which is seen as a joint project with an estimated commissioning date of 2029. Industry media estimate the investment at around €600 million. Such a plant is capable of creating stable demand for fuel and, accordingly, pushing forward discussions on long-term supply terms — which is why Baku’s statements separately mention the topic of gas prices for future generation.
The stated target of 15-20% seems realistic precisely as a “market share” rather than the maximum technical capacity of the route. Even with Serbia’s moderate consumption, this means the need to reach several hundred million cubic meters per year on a sustainable basis and to secure a commercial supply formula after 2026. At the same time, Baku is making it clear that it sees Serbia as a potential energy hub for the Western Balkans and is looking for additional areas of cooperation, including projects in the field of green energy and hydrogen.
Presidents of Serbia Aleksandar Vucic and Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev held the first session of the Strategic Partnership Council and outlined the priorities of the economic bloc – from energy and investment to trade, agriculture and tourism, Serbian Economist reports.
The key practical outcome was the formalization of a package of bilateral documents. Seven agreements and memoranda were exchanged in Belgrade, including agreements on the design, construction and operation of a gas turbine power plant in Serbia, cooperation in the field of food security, a memorandum between the ministries of economy, as well as documents on media and communications, culture (for 2026-2030), sports and interaction of health insurance systems.
The leaders explicitly call energy cooperation the basis for the next step – electricity production based on Azerbaijani gas. Aliyev said Baku has decided to increase natural gas exports to Serbia, linking this to plans for electricity generation and potential future exports.
In the Serbian interpretation, the gas-fired power plant project is already tied to the parameters: Vucic said that Srbijagas and SOCAR are in discussions, and the goal is to reach the launch of the plant with an installed capacity of 500 MW by 2029 (locations are considered in the Niš area).
Against the backdrop of the political increase in the level of relations, the sides are once again returning to the issue of trade turnover. According to the Serbian National Statistics Office, the foreign trade turnover with Azerbaijan in 2024 amounted to $512.6 million (5-fold growth), with the main contribution provided by the purchase of crude oil and oil products.
Baku, for its part, estimates trade turnover in 2025 at $135 million and notes the growth of imports of Serbian goods by 55% – this data was cited by Azerbaijani Finance Minister Sahil Babayev on the eve of the visit.
It was also noted at the Council meeting that direct flights between Baku and Belgrade should start in May 2026, which is expected to strengthen tourism and business contacts.
In the coming months, governments and line ministers should “land” political agreements in the form of concrete projects. Vucic and Aliyev have publicly recorded that they expect quick results before the next visit of the Serbian president to Azerbaijan during this year.
https://t.me/relocationrs/2271
Another shipment of energy equipment has been sent from Azerbaijan to Ukraine, provided by organizations, enterprises, and concerned citizens of the Republic of Azerbaijan as part of the Ukrainian Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ initiative “Warmth for Ukraine” (#WarmthforUkraine), initiated by Foreign Minister Andriy Sibiga.
This was reported by the Ambassador of Ukraine to the Republic of Azerbaijan, Yuriy Gusev.
According to him, the aid is primarily intended to support the State Emergency Service of Ukraine (SES), as well as a number of affected communities. The shipment includes:
17 generators of various capacities, 4 portable power systems, and 3 heat guns. “This is not just equipment—it is warmth, light, and the ability to work, recover, and support each other amid daily Russian terrorist attacks on energy infrastructure,” the ambassador emphasized.
Gusev expressed his sincere gratitude to Azerbaijan, its top leadership, enterprises, organizations, and the entire Azerbaijani people for their consistent and concrete support of Ukraine during difficult times.
“Such assistance is extremely valuable. It once again confirms the friendship between our peoples and the strength of the Ukrainian-Azerbaijani strategic partnership,” the diplomat stressed.
The Ukrainian Foreign Ministry continues to work to attract similar assistance and is already coordinating with partners on the next shipment of necessary energy equipment.
