The Russian president, Vladimir Putin, and his Azerbaijani counterpart, Ilham Aliyev, on Tuesday (18 January) held a telephone conversation to discuss bilateral ties and the international situation.
According to the Azerbaijani readout, the two leaders noted the successful developments of relations, and discussed prospects for strategic partnerships.
They also discussed the recent diplomatic talks held between the US and Russia and the ongoing process around Ukraine more generally. The Russian statement noted the successful work of the CSTO “peacekeeping force” in stabilising the situation in Kazakhstan.
In its readout, the Kremlin emphasised the focus during the conversation on Ukraine. The website of the Russian President (kremlin.ru) stated that:
Taking into account the recent visit of Ilham Aliyev to Ukraine, the issues of intra-Ukrainian settlement, stalled due to the destructive line of Kiev, were discussed. Vladimir Putin spoke about his contacts with the United States and its allies on issues of providing guarantees to ensure Russia's security.
"During the exchange of views on the recent events in Kazakhstan, satisfaction was expressed that the situation was quickly stabilized, in particular, thanks to the presence of the CSTO peacekeeping forces. The intention to further strengthen the Russian-Azerbaijani strategic partnership was confirmed."