The Russian Foreign Ministry on Wednesday called on parties to the conflict in the disputed Nagorno-Karabakh region to immediately stop the bloodshed, cease hostilities and avoid casualties among the civilian population.
"In connection with the sharp escalation of the armed confrontation in Nagorno-Karabakh, we urge the conflicting sides to immediately stop the bloodshed, cease hostilities and avoid casualties among the civilian population," the ministry said in a statement on the website.
The ministry believes that "the fate of the Nagorno-Karabakh settlement was dramatically affected by Yerevan's recognition of Nagorno-Karabakh as part of the territory of Azerbaijan at the summits under the auspices of the European Union in October 2022 and May 2023," adding that "this changed the fundamental conditions, under which the statement of the leaders of Russia, Azerbaijan and Armenia of November 9, 2020, was signed, as well as the position of the Russian Peacekeeping Contingent."
The ministry said Russia's peacekeeping forces "have been faithfully carrying out the tasks of maintaining the ceasefire and ensuring contacts between the Azerbaijani and Armenian sides" since their deployment in the region, adding that Russia's peacekeepers "coordinated efforts to improve the humanitarian situation 'on the ground,' as well as contributed to the launch of direct dialog between Baku and [the Karabakh city of] Stepanakert."
"Even in these hours, the Russian Peacekeeping Contingent is providing assistance to the civilian population, including medical aid, and is engaged in evacuation," the Russian ministry said.
"It is important now to urgently return to the implementation of the set of trilateral agreements, reached at the highest level in 2020-2022, where all steps for a peaceful solution to the Karabakh problem are enshrined, to stop the armed confrontation and do everything possible to ensure the rights and security of the population of Nagorno-Karabakh," the statement read.
In 2020, hostilities resumed in Nagorno-Karabakh, continuing a long-standing conflict. On the night of November 10, Azerbaijan and Armenia, mediated by Moscow, agreed to a complete ceasefire.
In 2022, Yerevan and Baku, mediated by Russia, as well as the United States and the European Union, began discussing a future peace treaty. In late May this year, Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan said that Yerevan was ready to recognize Azerbaijan's sovereignty over Karabakh. Russian President Vladimir Putin pointed out that the Armenian leadership has essentially recognized Azerbaijan's sovereignty over Karabakh.