Putin and the Aliyevs Had an Informal Dinner

Russian President Vladimir Putin attended an informal dinner hosted by Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev and First Lady Mehriban Aliyeva at the president's residence, "Zagulba," on Sunday evening after arriving in Baku for a state visit.

The meeting at the Zagulba residence, located along the Caspian Sea coast, was marked by a warm and personal atmosphere as Aliyev and his wife welcomed Putin shortly after his arrival in the Azerbaijani capital. The informal dinner, held in honor of the Russian leader, set the tone for a more personal and relaxed exchange ahead of formal talks planned for the following day.

According to official sources, the leaders briefly discussed bilateral cooperation and shared common interests in regional developments during the dinner, while more detailed discussions were left for Monday’s official meetings. The two heads of state are expected to explore prospects for enhancing Russian-Azerbaijani relations across various sectors and address significant regional and global issues during their scheduled talks.

Putin's visit to Azerbaijan is seen as a move to further solidify the partnership between Moscow and Baku, with energy, trade, and security topics likely to dominate the upcoming discussions.