Armenian and Azerbaijani Leaders Meet in Copenhagen

Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan and Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev met in Copenhagen, Denmark, during the European Political Community summit. The meeting was announced by the Prime Minister’s office, which reported that it took place as part of Pashinyan’s official visit to Denmark, where he is holding bilateral meetings with European leaders.

According to both sides, the two leaders discussed the agreements reached earlier in Washington, known as the Washington Peace Summit, which was initiated by U.S. President Donald Trump. They spoke about peace, regional transport links, and the so-called “Trump Route for International Peace and Prosperity” (TRIPP) project. The Armenian governmentQ confirmed its readiness to continue efforts for stability, while Azerbaijan repeated its demands in a way that continues to undermine Armenia’s sovereignty.

The TRIPP project has been at the center of dispute. Yerevan views it as a framework for regional communication that must remain under Armenia’s full sovereignty. Baku, however, continues to present it as the “Zangezur Corridor,” a term that Aliyev and his allies in Turkey have promoted since the 2020 war against Artsakh. This phrase is seen in Armenia as an attempt to make territorial claims against Syunik and erase Armenian statehood.

In his speech at the UN General Assembly, Aliyev again described the TRIPP as extraterritorial, disregarding Armenian objections and openly pushing for a corridor that would cut through Armenian land. Pashinyan firmly rejected this interpretation in his own address, saying that Aliyev’s claims contradict the Washington agreements and are unacceptable to Armenia.

Despite these objections, Azerbaijani and Turkish officials continue to ignore Armenia’s position. This shows once again that Azerbaijan has no real interest in peace, but rather uses negotiations to force concessions while holding Armenian prisoners, occupying parts of Armenia’s border, and preventing the return of Artsakh’s displaced Armenians to their homes.

Inside Armenia, political debate around the Washington agreements continues. Pashinyan’s ruling Civil Contract party passed a resolution in parliament supporting their implementation and urging both countries to avoid conflict rhetoric. However, opposition parties boycotted the vote, arguing that the resolution avoids the real issues.

The Hayastan alliance said the resolution “has nothing to do with the real peace that our country needs so much,” pointing out that it does not demand the release of Armenian prisoners, the withdrawal of Azerbaijani troops from occupied border areas, or the return of the people of Artsakh who were forcibly displaced during Azerbaijan’s ethnic cleansing campaign.

The Pativ Unem bloc also denounced the government’s move, calling it “misinformation and empty promises.” According to them, Pashinyan’s approach misleads the Armenian public and strengthens Aliyev’s position.

The Washington summit also led to the initialing of an Armenian-Azerbaijani peace treaty, but Azerbaijan has already made its signing conditional on changing Armenia’s constitution. This is another way for Aliyev to interfere in Armenia’s internal affairs and extract more concessions.

Armenian opposition forces warn that even if the treaty is signed, Azerbaijan will not abandon its expansionist policies. They argue that Aliyev’s goal is to keep Armenia under constant pressure, weakening its independence and erasing the Armenian presence in Artsakh once and for all.

The meeting in Copenhagen shows the ongoing imbalance in negotiations. Armenia continues to push for real peace, grounded in sovereignty and international law, while Azerbaijan uses the language of peace only to disguise its ongoing aggression and demands for Armenian territory.

—

Support independent reporting from the region by subscribing to The Armenian Report. Our team is funded solely by readers like you.