Putin says Russian air defences downed Azerbaijani passenger jet last year

Key points

Putin pledges compensation for ‘tragic’ plane incident

Russian missiles detonated near Azerbaijan Airlines plane

Aliyev criticised initial Moscow response, thanks Putin for investigation

Moscow: Russian President Vladimir Putin told Azerbaijan’s leader that two Russian missiles had detonated beside an Azerbaijan Airlines plane last year after Ukrainian drones entered Russian airspace, in an incident that led to the deaths of 38 people.

In what was the Kremlin leader’s most candid admission to date that Moscow was to blame for the deadly incident, he offered his apologies again to President Ilham Aliyev and promised compensation to those affected.

Russian President Vladimir Putin, right, and Azerbaijan’s President Ilham Aliyev shake hands prior to their talks on the sideli