Ukraine's Call to Boycott SOCAR: Reflections on Complex Dual Loyalties

By Saturday evening, initial details emerged about the unexpected visit of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to Azerbaijan, which, according to sources, had been prepared in advance with the involvement of military officials and focused on security and defence cooperation.

When Ukraine’s president, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, arrived in the mountain resort of Gabala for talks with Ilham Aliyev, the setting itself carried a message: a carefully calibrated meeting, away from capitals and front lines, signaling engagement without provocation.

Ukraine has signed 10-year agreements with Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Qatar to export counter-drone weapons to these countries. In total, similar requests have been received from 11 countries in the Middle East and the Persian Gulf, “plus we are gradually looking toward the Caucasus.” This was stated on April 20 by the President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy during a telethon.

After a catastrophe that could have undermined relations, Azerbaijan and Russia are quietly rebuilding ties — not through large-scale political gestures, but through a more stable and less visible mechanism of trade.