MOSCOW, July 24, 2025 — Russia’s Foreign Ministry has responded to recent remarks by Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev in support of Ukraine’s armed resistance, following his public endorsement of Ukrainian soldiers during a meeting with a journalist from Kyiv.
Speaking at a weekly briefing, Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova confirmed that the Kremlin had already addressed Aliyev’s comments.
“Whoever makes such statements in the context of issues that are of principle for us — the appropriate response has already been delivered via the Presidential Administration. I believe you’ve seen it,” Zakharova told reporters.
On July 20, President Aliyev accepted military insignia from a Ukrainian journalist and responded with the phrase, “Continue as you are.” The moment, which was widely circulated on Ukrainian media, was interpreted as a symbolic gesture of support for Kyiv in its ongoing war with Russia.
Aliyev also indicated that Azerbaijan is preparing legal action against Russia in international courts over the recent crash of an AZAL (Azerbaijan Airlines) flight near Aktau, Kazakhstan. The Azerbaijani president is reportedly demanding compensation for victims’ families and survivors, hinting at Moscow’s potential liability in the incident.
The diplomatic exchange adds a new layer of tension to already strained Russian-Azerbaijani relations amid growing regional and global polarization over the war in Ukraine.
