Russia increases pressure on Armenia over its course toward the EU
Kyiv • UNN
The Russian Federation has intensified pressure on Armenia due to its course toward the EU and the summit involving Zelenskyy. Moscow has banned flower imports and is threatening the country's withdrawal from the EAEU.
Relations between Armenia and Russia have sharply escalated after Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan's government intensified its course toward rapprochement with the European Union. This was reported by Bloomberg, according to UNN.
Details
Moscow's dissatisfaction was further fueled by the holding of a European summit in Yerevan with the participation of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. Following this, Russia banned the import of Armenian flowers and began raising questions regarding Armenia's continued membership in the Eurasian Economic Union.
Putin previously stated that Armenia should put the issue of its European course to a referendum and also allowed for a "mutually beneficial divorce" from Yerevan. At the same time, he drew parallels with Ukraine, stating that the conflict began after "attempts to join the EU."
Deepening conflict between Yerevan and Moscow
In response, Pashinyan emphasized that only Armenia has the right to decide on its membership in the EAEU. Amid the parliamentary elections, pro-Russian political forces have also strengthened in the country, particularly allies of businessman Samvel Karapetyan and former President Robert Kocharyan.
Following Armenia's defeats in the conflict with Azerbaijan in 2020 and 2023, Yerevan began distancing itself from Russian security structures, effectively freezing its participation in the CSTO and strengthening contacts with the US, NATO, and the EU. At the same time, the country remains economically dependent on Russia, which controls a significant portion of Armenia's energy and transport infrastructure.