Prime Minister of Armenia Nikol Pashinyan expressed optimism regarding the prospects of signing a comprehensive peace agreement with Azerbaijan by the end of 2025
During his participation in the international forum GLOBSEC 2025 in Prague, he announced the intention to conclude prolonged negotiations and dissolve all structured mechanisms established within the OSCE Minsk Group, which until recently served as a vassal platform for diplomatic efforts to settle the conflict. According to the prime minister, such a development is entirely realistic and fully aligned with Yerevan’s interests. However, he emphasized the importance of considering one key nuance — the need to guarantee that during the conflict resolution process, a situation does not arise where the issue of Armenia’s territorial sovereignty is once again threatened after resolving certain aspects within Azerbaijan’s territory. Pashinyan underlined that Baku still demands the dissolution of OSCE Minsk Group structures, as well as the non-recognition and recognition of some claims on Armenian territory, covering about 60% of its sovereign land, which Azerbaijani circles refer to as "Western Azerbaijan." He believes that these claims could materialize territorial and political pretensions against Armenia that should be avoided within any potential agreement. "But the main decision remains — to sign a peace treaty and simultaneously eliminate from the negotiation system the mechanisms that no longer correspond to current realities," — Pashinyan said. He called on the Armenian side to strive to implement this concept no later than the end of the year to stabilize the situation and lay the groundwork for further peaceful settlement. At the same time, the prime minister assured that Armenia is ready to swiftly resume and energize the negotiation process with Baku in order to sign and approve a final document. According to him, it is important for the Armenian side to maintain resolve and objectivity to reach a compromise that would satisfy both countries and reduce regional tensions. Overall, it should be noted that the question of resolving the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict and a long-term peace treaty remains extremely complex and multi-faceted. Azerbaijan and Armenia have essentially been in a state of cold war for over three decades since gaining independence, and the escalation of military actions in 2020 and 2023 led to critical interventions and reformatting of controlled territories. Armenia insists on its sovereignty and security guarantees, while Baku is persistently advancing its demands regarding the recognition of "Western Azerbaijan" and making appropriate amendments in constitutional documents. Currently, both sides are taking initial steps on a long and difficult path toward a peace agreement, aiming to overcome historical grievances and ensure regional stabilization. The forthcoming months are expected to be decisive in determining the future format of relations, as well as in shaping specific conditions and guarantees that will make it possible to prevent further conflicts. Ukrainian and international analysts are paying particular attention to these processes, seeing potential for long-awaited peace in the Caucasus if the parties can reach a compromise solution that considers the interests of all participants.