MOSCOW: Russia’s Foreign Ministry has denied reports that Russian and German officials held secret talks in Azerbaijan last month about the Ukraine war.
Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Galuzin told state-run TASS that Moscow had no official contacts with Germany regarding a settlement in Ukraine.
He also said such contacts were unlikely because of what he called Germany’s aggressive rhetoric and policies toward Russia.
The denial followed comments by Azerbaijan’s President Ilham Aliyev in July. Aliyev said Russian and German officials had held a secret meeting in Baku earlier that month.
Reports Identify Former Officials
Media reports identified several former officials who allegedly participated in the discussions. Former Brandenburg minister-president Matthias Platzeck and former German Chancellery chief of staff Ronald Pofalla reportedly attended from Germany.
Former Russian Prime Minister Viktor Zubkov and presidential human rights chief Valery Fadeyev allegedly represented Russia.
However, Galuzin acknowledged that unofficial backchannel discussions had occurred between Russian and German individuals. He stressed that those participants were not affiliated with their governments.
Meanwhile, reports this month said former British, French and German diplomats secretly met former Russian officials in Vienna.
The discussions reportedly formed part of an initiative led by the Switzerland-based Center for Humanitarian Dialogue.
Galuzin did not address the Vienna meeting in his comments.
European leaders have considered direct talks with Moscow. However, the Kremlin has rejected the European Union as a potential mediator in Ukraine peace negotiations.
