MOSCOW — Russia on Saturday praised a landmark peace accord between Azerbaijan and Armenia brokered by the United States, while warning that excessive involvement by outside powers could complicate stability in the South Caucasus.
The agreement, signed on Friday during a meeting with U.S. President Donald Trump, grants Washington exclusive development rights to a transport corridor through Armenia. This route will connect Azerbaijan to its Nakhchivan exclave, which borders Turkey, a move expected to reshape regional trade links.
In its first official response, Russia’s Foreign Ministry expressed support for initiatives aimed at fostering peace and prosperity in the region, including the Washington talks. However, Moscow emphasized that enduring solutions should emerge from cooperation among the regional states themselves, supported by immediate neighbors like Russia, Iran, and Turkey.
“The involvement of non-regional players should strengthen the peace agenda, not create new divisions,” the ministry said. It further urged avoiding what it called the “unfortunate experience” of Western-led conflict resolution efforts in the Middle East. Despite welcoming the peace efforts, Russia reiterated its preference for direct negotiations between Baku and Yerevan, without reliance on external mediators.