The president of Russia Vladimir Putin arrived in Baku, Azerbaijan today for a two-day official visit, during which he will meet with his Azeri counterpart, Ilham Aliyev, the Kremlin announced.

The visit to this Caucasian country, which is a close partner of Moscow but at the same time an important supplier of energy to the countries of the West, takes place while the unprecedented attack of Ukrainian forces on Russian territory, in the Kursk region, continues.

Russian television broadcast footage of Putin’s plane arriving in Baku.

The Russian president will tomorrow discuss with Aliyev “issues related to the development of strategic cooperation and alliance relations between Russia and Azerbaijanas well as international and regional problems,” the Kremlin said.

Putin will also attend a wreath-laying ceremony at his grave tomorrow Heydar Aliyevthe former president of Azerbaijan (1993-2003) and father of the country’s current leader.

Putin last visited Azerbaijan in 2018.

Azerbaijan, which will host the next climate summit (COP29) in November, is a major producer of natural gas and has been turned to by the European Union to cover shortfalls after Russian deliveries fell after the start of the war in Ukraine in February of 2022.

An arrest warrant has been issued against Putin from March 2023 by the International Criminal Court, for the “displacement” of children from Ukraine to Russia, which complicates his movements abroad. Moscow categorically rejects the accusations.