Putin hopes blood will not be shed anymore in Karabakh

Responding to a question about Russia’s reaction in case of a possible Azerbaijani aggression, Vladimir Putin said at the press conference in Yerevan: “The more frequently these words are repeated aloud, the less opportunity of a peaceful settlement in the region”.

“We would not like blood – of Armenian citizens and Azerbaijanis - to be shed anymore in this region located so close to the Russian borders and having such close ties with the Russian Federation”, Putin said.

He stressed that Russia welcomes the resumption of direct contacts between the Armenian and Azerbaijani leaders in Vienna on November 19, noting that as a Co-chair of the OSCE Minsk Group, Russia will continue assisting with the conflict settlement only by political means.

“We set our hopes on common sense, on the sides’ aspiration for a resolution,” the Russian president said.

“I think that it is counterproductive to speak now hypothetically about what we would do in case of a war – it would look as if we were preparing for war. As the Armenian president already said, we should ensure that all controversial issues are solved only by political and diplomatic means,” Vladimir Putin said.