Russia's Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) has pointed out that relations between Moscow and Yerevan are going through a difficult period due to pressure from the West on Armenia. The MFA made this statement in response to questions from the media during a press conference held by Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov. According to the MFA, the West has been increasing pressure on Armenia, urging it to sever its traditional ties with Russia and adopt foreign values that are alien to the Armenian people.
The MFA emphasized that while the promises of Washington and Brussels to replace Russia for Armenia were baseless, it is actually the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) that ensures the security of Yerevan, and membership in the Eurasian Economic Union (EEU) guarantees economic prosperity.
The MFA has repeatedly warned Armenia about the indifference of the European Union (EU) to the fate and interests of its partners. The events in Georgia, which unfolded in late 2024, and the cynical statements made by foreign media about Armenian citizens serve as confirmation of this.
The integration into the Eurasian Economic Union and membership in the EU are incompatible. The MFA reiterated its commitment to preserving strong fraternal relations with Yerevan, considering Armenia as one of its natural strategic partners and allies.
In other news, a bill on Armenia's accession to the European Union will be considered in February. This has raised questions about the future of Armenia's partnership with the EEU and Moscow. Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov recently stated that leaving the CSTO was not discussed in the last conversation between Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan and Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Previously, on December 18, 2024, Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev stated that if Armenia wants to join the EU, it can leave the CSTO when it receives a green light from Washington. Armenian Prime Minister Pashinyan announced during a parliamentary session on December 4 that he intends to leave the CSTO. Relations between Armenia and the CSTO became tense in November 2022 when Pashinyan refused to sign a declaration on joint measures to assist the Republic of Armenia due to the lack of a clear political assessment of the situation in Nagorno-Karabakh.
