Azerbaijan stands ready to supply natural gas to Ukraine should the need arise and is actively exploring the possibility of utilizing Ukraine's underground gas storage facilities to bolster regional energy security.
According to the Operative Information Center-OMM, Foreign Minister Jeyhun Bayramov announced this during a joint press conference with his Ukrainian counterpart, Andrii Sybiha, in Kyiv today.
The minister noted that the State Oil Company of the Azerbaijan Republic (SOCAR) has maintained a long-standing presence in the Ukrainian market, where it continues to operate actively and holds significant plans for the future development of energy cooperation. "Currently, there is a very dynamic and active dialogue underway regarding additional mutually beneficial directions for energy cooperation between Azerbaijan and Ukraine," the minister stated.
Jeyhun Bayramov emphasized that Azerbaijan plays a strategic role in ensuring Europe's energy security, currently supplying gas to 12 European countries, 10 of which are members of the European Union. "In this regard, if the necessity arises, we are prepared to supply gas to Ukraine as well," he affirmed.
Furthermore, the Foreign Minister highlighted that leveraging Ukraine's extensive underground gas storage infrastructure could become a promising avenue for strengthening energy security across the wider region. "We view this as a highly promising direction for our future cooperation," he added.
Azerbaijan has increasingly positioned itself as a critical energy partner for Europe, particularly following the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding on a Strategic Partnership in the Field of Energy with the European Commission in 2022. This partnership aims to double the volume of gas exports from Azerbaijan to the EU by 2027, underscoring the country's growing significance in diversifying European energy supplies amidst shifting geopolitical dynamics.
