EU tries to push Azerbaijan-Armenia peace as Russia offers more talks

Russia's President Vladimir Putin meets with Armenia's Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan and Azerbaijan's President Ilham Aliyev on the sidelines of the Eurasian Economic Union summit in Moscow, Russia May 25, 2023. Sputnik/Mikhail Metzel/Pool via REUTERS

BRUSSELS (Reuters) - The European Union urged Azerbaijan and Armenia to refrain from "violence and harsh rhetoric" on Saturday at the latest round of talks in a tortuous peace process in which Russia is also pushing to retain a leading role.

EU Council President Charles Michel hosted Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev and Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan for talks in Brussels aimed at drawing a line under more than three decades of hostilities.