Putin calls for calm after fiercest fighting between Azerbaijan and Armenia since 2020

At least 49 Armenian and 50 Azerbaijani soldiers were killed on Tuesday in the fiercest fighting between the two countries since the 2020 war, prompting Russian President Vladimir Putin to call for calm.

Armenia and Azerbaijan, two former Soviet states, have accused each other of being responsible for renewed fighting that began last night at several points along their borders, raising fears of another major armed conflict in the former Soviet region while Russia continues its campaign in Ukraine.

Russia deploys peacekeepers in the conflict zone between Azerbaijan and Armenia as guarantor of a deal that ended two years ago a six-week war over the disputed Nagorno-Karabakh region.

Yerevan said Azerbaijan bombed towns near the border including Jermuk, Goris and Kaban, forcing it to respond.

Baku said that sabotage units from Armenia tried to plant mines in Azerbaijani positions and started shooting.

"It is natural that President Putin will do everything in his power to help de-escalate tensions on the border," Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters.

The Russian Foreign Ministry said in a statement that the conflict between Armenia and Azerbaijan should be resolved exclusively through political and diplomatic means.

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