On July 15, Maria Zakharova, the Russian Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman, stated that Moscow is awaiting an agreement between Baku and Yerevan on the schedule for the upcoming foreign ministerial meetings within the "3+3" regional cooperation platform. Zakharova recalled that the sides reached an understanding on organizing the meetings after the Istanbul session. She noted that during the first expert-level meeting of the platform, held on June 5, 2026, on the sidelines of the St. Petersburg forum, participants supported the idea of prioritizing concrete and mutually beneficial economic initiatives without political discussions. "We fully share this approach," Zakharova stated.

She emphasized that the "3+3" format, which includes Armenia, Azerbaijan, and Georgia, along with Russia, Iran, and Turkey, was created in 2021 to allow regional countries and neighboring states to address common challenges through their own efforts. According to Zakharova, the countries involved in the platform "have a vital stake in peace and security in the South Caucasus." She added that the agenda, developed during three foreign ministerial-level meetings in Moscow, Tehran, and Istanbul, covers various areas of cooperation, including transportation, energy, culture, and countering emerging challenges and threats. "There is no intention to discuss bilateral relations; this format is about something else entirely," Zakharova emphasized.