Armenia, Azerbaijan forge peace deal, leaving Russia out | JQJO

Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan and Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev met in Abu Dhabi to discuss finalizing a peace agreement, marking the first bilateral meeting since agreeing on a draft text. This meeting is significant due to Russia's absence, reflecting both countries' distancing from the Kremlin. The meeting follows similar talks between Armenia and Turkey, indicating surprising diplomatic progress. While Russia attempts to regain influence through disinformation campaigns and alleged coup attempts in Armenia, the country is strengthening ties with the EU and pursuing its own interests, learning from Russia's failures in Ukraine. The shift leaves a power vacuum in the South Caucasus, raising concerns about Russia's future actions.