Azerbaijan is prepared 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 Operative Information Center-OMM, citing Report, this statement was made by Foreign Minister Jeyhun Bayramov during a joint press conference with his Ukrainian counterpart, Andrii Sybiha, in Kyiv today.
Minister Bayramov noted that the State Oil Company of the Republic of Azerbaijan (SOCAR) has maintained a long-standing presence in the Ukrainian market, where it continues to operate actively and holds significant plans for the further development of energy cooperation. "There is currently a very dynamic and active dialogue underway regarding additional mutually beneficial avenues for energy cooperation between Azerbaijan and Ukraine," the minister stated.
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 context, should the necessity arise, we are ready to supply gas to Ukraine as well," he affirmed.
The Azerbaijani Foreign Minister also highlighted that leveraging Ukraine's extensive underground gas storage capacity could become a promising area of bilateral cooperation to strengthen energy security across the broader region. "We view this as a highly promising direction for our future cooperation," Bayramov concluded.
Azerbaijan has increasingly become 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, further cementing the country's role as a reliable energy supplier in the region.
