Moscow is ready to assist Yerevan and Baku in demarcating the border between Armenia and Azerbaijan, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said on Monday, May 17. Lavrov added that Russia sees no reason to "whip up emotions" because of the situation on the border between the two countries.

"Not a single shot has been fired, no skirmishes have taken place there. [The sides] have sat down and started negotiations on ways to defuse the situation. They have asked us for assistance, our military has provided such assistance, an agreement has been reached. I see no reason to whip up emotions in this non-routine, but calmly regulated issue," RIA Novosti cited Lavrov as saying.

"As for the situation on the Azerbaijani-Armenian border, the Azerbaijani side, after the incident took place, issued statements explaining the incident as a misunderstanding, most importantly due to an absence of delimited and demarcated borders. We have suggested to the parties that they start such work, we are ready to assist them in this by providing both cartographic material and consulting services."

On the morning of May 12, the armed forces of Azerbaijan violated the border of Armenia in the southern province of Syunik, advancing 3.5 kilometers and surrounding Sev Lake, which is situated on the border between the two countries but is predominantly a part of Armenia. On May 13, the Azerbaijani military committed more border violations against Armenia, advancing near Vardenis (Gegharkunik province) and Sisian (Syunik province).