The leaders of Armenia, Azerbaijan and Russia signed a statement on 9 November 2020 to halt the Nagorno-Karabakh war. The ceasefire took effect at midnight Moscow time on 10 November after six weeks of intense fighting.

Terms of the agreement

Azerbaijan retained territory captured during the war, while Armenia agreed to return additional surrounding districts. The statement provided for Russian peacekeepers and arrangements for the Lachin corridor connecting Armenia with the Armenian-populated part of Nagorno-Karabakh.

Immediate reaction

The agreement was celebrated in Azerbaijan as a major victory. In Armenia, protesters entered government buildings and denounced Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan for accepting painful territorial concessions. The deal stopped organized fighting but did not resolve the territory’s final political status.

Regional consequences

The settlement strengthened Russia’s direct security role through its peacekeeping deployment and reflected Turkey’s growing influence as Azerbaijan’s principal supporter. It also created new transport and security questions that would shape South Caucasus diplomacy for years.

Sources

• UN Peacemaker: text of the trilateral statement
• Reuters: agreement ends the conflict

Featured image is an illustrative Azerbaijan city view. Photo by Zulfugar Karimov on Unsplash.