Ukraine and the false promises of the West Never yield to occupation

President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev held a series of important meetings during the World Economic Forum. Among these was a meeting with President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy, which took place at the request of the Ukrainian side. The leaders of Azerbaijan and Ukraine discussed bilateral relations in political, economic, and humanitarian spheres, as well as cooperation in the energy sector and issues of regional security.

The Ukrainian leader expressed his gratitude for all the assistance Azerbaijan has provided to his country since the onset of the full-scale Russian-Ukrainian war. This assistance goes far beyond humanitarian aid, which is measured in tens of millions of dollars, and the support in the energy sector, which was crucially timely. Even more significant is Azerbaijan's political support for Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity—a position Baku has consistently upheld.

Meetings between the Presidents of Azerbaijan and Ukraine occur regularly, reflecting the strong ties between the two nations.

In December 2019, Volodymyr Zelenskyy made an official visit to Baku, during which several agreements on bilateral cooperation in key areas were signed. This was followed by a significant working visit by President Ilham Aliyev to Kyiv in mid-January 2022. Notably, this visit coincided with the 30th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Azerbaijan and Ukraine and came at a critical time when Ukraine sought increased international support.

The 2022 visit resulted in the signing of six bilateral agreements spanning agriculture, transport, energy, and trade. Among these, the Joint Declaration was particularly significant, addressing crucial aspects of bilateral relations. It reaffirmed the mutual commitment of both countries to support each other’s sovereignty and territorial integrity within internationally recognised borders.

Azerbaijan has consistently voiced its support for Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, particularly following the outbreak of the full-scale Russian-Ukrainian war.

This stance was reiterated during the international conference titled “South Caucasus: Development and Cooperation”, held on 29 April 2022 at the Azerbaijan Diplomatic Academy. President Ilham Aliyev, addressing a large audience, once again highlighted Azerbaijan’s steadfast support for Ukraine’s territorial integrity.

This statement was made during a period when leaders of some states were privately advising Ukraine's leadership to capitulate. As the saying goes, "feel the difference." Moreover, during his speech at the conference at ADA, the President of Azerbaijan was asked what advice he would give to Ukraine. His response was unequivocal: “Based on our experience, the most important [thing] is never agree to occupation.”

These were the words of a global political leader who successfully achieved the full restoration of Azerbaijan's sovereignty and territorial integrity.

Now, let us turn to the statement made by Volodymyr Zelenskyy in Davos. He emphasised that Ukraine would not agree to a compromise that involves recognising the occupied territories as part of Russia. Zelenskyy firmly stated that this would not happen, even under pressure from all allies.

Zelenskyy’s actions appear to closely align with the advice given by President Ilham Aliyev. Attention should also be drawn to the Ukrainian president's remarks regarding pressure from international allies. In Azerbaijan, there is a deep awareness of the hypocrisy, deceit, and treachery often embedded in the policies of countries vying for global or European influence. For nearly three decades, the OSCE Minsk Group co-chairing countries largely upheld Armenia’s occupation of Azerbaijani territories.

Regarding the U.S. stance on Ukraine, a recent article in The New York Times highlighted a concerning shift in approach. In late 2022, when General Mark Milley suggested that Ukraine should leverage its battlefield successes to initiate peace talks, then-Secretary of State Antony Blinken insisted that the conflict must continue. The outcome of this approach was evident: the Biden-Blinken administration failed to offer Ukraine the comprehensive support needed, resulting in territorial losses and the tragic loss of lives.

While speaking in Davos, Volodymyr Zelenskyy pointed out that the West’s policy regarding Ukraine’s NATO membership “was not very transparent.” He said, “They did not support us in NATO. These were just false words, that Ukraine will be in NATO. Decades passed, and Ukraine is not in NATO. And it was unfair to Ukraine and the Ukrainian people. And it was also unfair of our leaders when they said that they were promised NATO membership for Ukraine.”

He is right. The collective West, and the Biden-Blinken administration in particular, have used the Russian-Ukrainian conflict for their own interests. They never had the goal of fully supporting the restoration of Ukraine's territorial integrity. Similarly, they never had plans to assist Azerbaijan in fully restoring its sovereignty and territorial integrity. In Azerbaijan, there was a clear understanding of the challenges at hand, and the country pursued its objectives despite the difficult circumstances. Ukraine, too, will need to adopt a similar approach, remaining steadfast in its pursuit of sovereignty and territorial integrity in the face of adversity.