As previously reported, a plane believed to be carrying U.S. President Donald Trump’s special envoy, Steven Witkoff, has departed Moscow. According to claims, the plane took off at 01:54 Moscow time and landed at Heydar Aliyev International Airport in Baku at 05:30 Baku time.

Initially, this information seemed unlikely, as Witkoff was expected to hold important meetings in Russia, with further discussions possibly continuing today.

However, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov has now confirmed that a meeting between Russian President Vladimir Putin and Witkoff took place last night. According to Peskov, Putin used this meeting to “send signals and additional information to Trump.”

This suggests that Witkoff’s visit to Moscow has concluded, making his return inevitable. But could his arrival in Baku be a possibility?

The Azerbaijani Ministry of Foreign Affairs has not responded to inquiries on the matter, and no official statements have been issued.

However, there is a plausible reason for Witkoff to travel directly from Moscow to Baku. Could Trump and Putin have chosen Baku as a potential meeting location?

It is important to note that Azerbaijan is a highly independent country, maintaining neutrality in the Ukraine conflict. While it has not joined any unilateral sanctions against Russia, it has consistently provided humanitarian aid to Ukraine and maintained strong relations with both nations.

There is also relevant precedent:

  • In February 2017, U.S. Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Joseph Dunford met with Russian Chief of General Staff Valery Gerasimov in Baku.
  • In December 2018, NATO’s Supreme Allied Commander Europe, Curtis Scaparrotti, also held talks with Gerasimov in Baku.

Since February 24, 2022, Putin has significantly limited his foreign trips, and following the ICC’s arrest warrant against him, he has not traveled to “distant foreign countries” at all. This is not only a security concern for a wartime leader but also involves restrictions related to Russian airspace and safe travel routes.

Belarus could have been an ideal option for Putin, but it is highly unlikely that Trump would accept such a location.

Given this context, Azerbaijan stands out as a top choice for Putin due to its secure environment, internal stability, strong government influence, airspace control, and regional leadership potential—all factors that could facilitate a Trump-Putin meeting in Baku.

Considering that Trump recently expressed eagerness to meet with Putin, it cannot be ruled out that Witkoff’s potential visit to Baku is related to the organization of this meeting.