Secret German-Russian Talks in Baku: Aliyev Throws Merz Under the Bus
During Aliyev's visit, it was revealed that German and Russian representatives had held some kind of secret backchannel talk in Baku. Merz initially denied any knowledge of the meeting. And then Aliyev suddenly immediately counters and confirms.
On July 21, 2026, Aliyev visited Berlin for talks with German Chancellor Merz focused on energy cooperation and the Southern Gas Corridor. What should have been a routine diplomatic visit became a moment of considerable embarrassment when, at their joint press conference, Asbed reveals that Merz initially denied knowledge of German-Russian backchannel talks that had taken place just days earlier in Baku.
The twist came when Aliyev, in the same press conference, immediately countered Merz’s denial. Aliyev confirmed that German and Russian officials-including Ronald Pofalla (Merz’s chief of staff) and Viktor Zubkov (former Russian Prime Minister)-had indeed met in Baku on July 17-18. The Azerbaijani leader noted that border records verified their arrival and presence. He then added the diplomatic insult: these talks occurred without informing the Azerbaijani government, though he welcomed such peace efforts in Baku.
This moment exposed several realities. First, Baku has become a geopolitical crossroads where Track 2 diplomacy operates outside Western sanctions and scrutiny. Second, Aliyev demonstrated remarkable leverage over Europe by having him throw a senior German official under the bus in public. Third, and most critically, these secret sessions aimed to test parameters for ending the Ukraine war and explore whether German coalition politics could be nudged toward Kremlin-acceptable peace terms. Europe, it appears, is looking for an exit from what it views as an unwinnable conflict. It signals that Azerbaijan holds significant leverage over European geopolitical calculations in the region.
Transcript
Asbed Bedrossian: Hovik, I want to take this whole visit of Aliyev in Berlin to another little mishap Asbed Bedrossian: or mis-event that happened. Asbed Bedrossian: During Aliyev's visit, they of course had a press conference. Asbed Bedrossian: It was revealed that German and Russian representatives had held some kind of Asbed Bedrossian: a secret backchannel talk in Baku just a few days earlier. Asbed Bedrossian: I think it was July 17 and 18, reportedly. Asbed Bedrossian: And the disclosure caused unexpected public friction at Asbed Bedrossian: the chancellery press conference because Merz initially denied any knowledge of Asbed Bedrossian: the meeting. Asbed Bedrossian: And then Aliyev suddenly immediately counters and confirms that Asbed Bedrossian: the Azerbaijani border records had verified that the participants had arrived All Asbed Bedrossian: the alleged participants had actually arrived in Baku and were in Baku at the times Asbed Bedrossian: that the press was asking about. Asbed Bedrossian: And then Aliyev goes on and clarifies that foreign actors had utilized Baku Asbed Bedrossian: without informing the government. Asbed Bedrossian: You believe that, right? Hovik Manucharyan: Yeah, dictatorship of Baku, right. Asbed Bedrossian: Right. Asbed Bedrossian: And he noted that, of course, any effort to facilitate peace can only be welcomed in Baku. Asbed Bedrossian: So anyway, Asbed Bedrossian: the funny thing about this is that Asbed Bedrossian: the incident exposed sensitivities around unsanctioned Track 2 diplomacy. Asbed Bedrossian: And it, of course, underscores that Baku is emerging as a geopolitical crossroads hub. Asbed Bedrossian: And supposedly the reason why it was held in Baku was that there are direct flights