“Borders Cannot Be Changed by Force”: Aliyev Backs Ukraine’s Territorial Integrity

Published: July 14, 2026

Ilham Aliyev. Photo: president.az

It is impossible to defeat a people striving for independence and the preservation of its identity. This is the conviction of Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev. Speaking at the opening of the 4th Shusha Media Forum, he emphasized that his assessment of Russia’s aggression against Ukraine remains unchanged. He also stated that Ukrainians should not agree to the loss of their territories, regardless of any external pressure, UATV English reports.

The Azerbaijani president also called for ending the war as soon as possible.

“As for Azerbaijan’s position, it is unchanged. We have always supported and will continue to support Ukraine’s territorial integrity, its sovereignty, and the inviolability of its borders. No state’s borders can be changed by force or without the consent of that country’s people. And here, of course, we are quite consistent and firm in our position. As for the Ukrainian people, as they say, whatever we can do, we are always ready to help. We are always ready to help,” said Azerbaijani leader Ilham Aliyev.

As a reminder, more than 150 journalists from 54 countries have arrived in Azerbaijan for the two-day media forum. They are discussing effective methods of combating disinformation and protecting freedom of speech in states affected by Russian influence. The FREEДOM channel is among the participants of the Shusha Media Forum.

2 comments

Ukrainian Voices :

Yuri Samonenko

putin, like a parrot, continues to demand the entire Donbas region, and so on.
He justifies this audacity by claiming that the regions are “already enshrined in the russian constitution.”
But! The fact that a thief has written his name on a stolen suitcase doesn’t make the suitcase the thief’s property.

In russia, the constitution has simply replaced the popular Soviet humorous magazine “Krokodil.” Of course, “Krokodil” was funnier and more politically significant, but… over time, “everything becomes smaller.”
“Krokodil” lost its punch and is now called the “Basic Law.”
It turns out that you can mock the poor little booklet however you like. The constitution tolerates an endless number of terms for a half-crazy president, an invasion of priests, and the abolition of all “freedoms.”
The people don’t even make a sound. And the more they are beaten with “collective political flogging,” the lower they bow.
The louder the Kremlin whip whistles, the more obsequious the people’s smile.
If a provision were added to the russian constitution obligating citizens to provide their wives, daughters, and mothers for “sexual use by criminals of the ‘special military operation’,” then, of course, there would be some “meek male tears” in secret, but “they wouldn’t dare to rebel.”

Nevzorov
@nevzorovtv

Ariana Gic

The Trump administration has escalated its attack on international law by launching a campaign of pressure on other nations to “dismantle” the International Criminal Court.

Once again, the Trump admin has aligned itself with rogue regimes, such as Russia, and distanced itself from democracies.

The US wants to do away with the international rules and institutions that have developed over the last eight decades to constrain the major powers. This is not leadership of the free world. This is a downward slide into a state that wants its hands untied to conduct aggressive pursuits.
“Trump’s administration and Putin’s regime pursue a common interest of unwinding the international rules which they deem threatening to their interests.”
(Gabrielius Landsbergis, Roman Sohn, Ariana Gic,
https://lnkd.in/gXMmFiec)

We should not discount that Trump and his administration want to shield both from any legal responsibility for crimes committed during the American illegal attack on Venezuela, which is a party to the Rome Statute.
Canada is also a party to the Rome Statute. An American attack on the ICC could also unties its hands to be able to commit war crimes on Canadian soil.