Russia’s foreign ministry announced on May 30 that it had recalled its ambassador to Armenia, Koperkin, for consultations on Armenia’s leadership moving closer to the EU. A day earlier, the presidents of Russia, Kazakhstan, Belarus and Kyrgyzstan issued a joint statement saying that, armenia should hold a referendum on joining the European Union or remaining in the Eurasian economic union as soon as possible. Russian presidential press secretary Peskov said on May 29 that it is Armenia’s sovereign right to move closer to the EU, but it can not do so at the expense of the interests of Eurasian Economic Union member states, armenia must“Pay its own way” to join the EU. Armenia’s Deputy Prime Minister Gregorian expressed his country’s willingness to continue“Sincere work” in the Eurasian Economic Union.
On May 29, the meeting of the Supreme Council of the Eurasian Economic Commission was held in Kazakhstan.
The Eurasian Economic Union was formed in 2015 and includes Russia, Kazakhstan, Belarus, Kyrgyzstan and Armenia. The joint statement by the four presidents was issued at the meeting of the Supreme Council of the Eurasian Economic Commission held in Astana, the capital of Kazakhstan, on May 29.
The statement pointed out that Armenia’s preparation to join the EU will bring“Significant risks” to the economic security of the Eurasian Economic Union member states, and member states must be prevented from suffering economic losses. The statement also said that the representatives of the Intergovernmental Council of the Eurasian Economic Union of Russia, Kazakhstan, Belarus and Kyrgyzstan will attend the regular meeting of the Supreme Council of the Eurasian Economic Commission of the Union in December this year, special report on the possible consequences of the suspension of Armenia’s application of the Eurasian Economic Union Treaty.
According to a RIA Novosti report, Russian President Putin has repeatedly said that Armenia has the right to choose its partners, but it is impossible for Armenia to join the EU and the Eurasian Economic Union at the same time. In April last year, the President of Armenia signed a bill to start the country’s process of joining the European Union. When the first armenia-eu Summit was held in Yerevan in early May, Brussels called it“A leap forward” in relations.
According to Kremlin sources, Putin said at a press conference in Astana on May 29 that Armenia’s choice between the European Union and the Eurasian Economic Union was purely an economic issue. By renouncing its membership of the Eurasian Economic Union, Armenia would lose all advantages in terms of market access, Labour Mobility, standards certification, tariff rates, logistics rates and energy prices, it will also suffer losses in russia-related trade in services and capital investment. Putin said according to expert calculations, this could result in Armenia losing more than 14% of its gross domestic product.
Putin said that nearly three years of data show that the Eurasian Economic Union economic growth faster, better momentum of development. More than 86 per cent of the $4.9 bn it has invested in Armenia has come from Russia, “While how and when the €2.5 bn committed by Europe will be invested remains to be seen”.
Russia has taken a number of steps in bilateral trade
Russia’s foreign ministry said May 30 News, Russia has recalled Ambassador to Armenia Koperkin. Russia believes that the Asian side to the EU close to the“Eurasian Economic Union framework is to harm cooperation.”.
Recently, Russia has taken a series of substantive measures on bilateral trade. According to Russia’s“Newspaper network” reported that the Russian energy minister has written to Armenia, said Russia may unilaterally stop or cancel the supply of natural gas, petroleum products and rough diamonds to Asia’s cooperation agreement.
At the same time, the Russian federal service for Veterinary and phytosanitary supervision began to impose restrictions on products from Armenia: as of 22 May, the import of flowers from Armenia was temporarily banned; as of 30 May, restrictions on the import of tomatoes, cucumbers, peppers, strawberries and other fruits and vegetables from Armenia. Russia said that the implementation of the ban is due to a number of violations of armenia-related imports, and posed a threat to Russian plant quarantine safety. Russia’s“View” said Armenia for goods, the loss of the Russian market may be a heavy blow.
Traditionally, Armenia has strong economic, diplomatic and security ties with Russia, but in recent years, Armenia’s government has“Gradually turned to the west,” Deutsche Welle reported on May 30, this was partly related to the outbreak of the conflict between Armenia and Azerbaijan in 2020 and 2023. In 2024, the Asian government froze its membership in the collective security treaty organization, saying other member states had failed to fulfill their obligations to Asia on security issues.
Armenia to hold parliamentary elections
Euronews reported on May 29 that the latest“Escalation” between Russia and Armenia comes as the latter prepares to hold parliamentary elections on June 7. According to reports by the Guardian and Reuters, Asian Prime Minister Pashnyan’s ruling citizens’ pact party is leading the polls with about 30% of the vote, it faces a challenge from a“Pro-russian” party. The civic pact is committed to closer ties with the west.
Armenia, which is about to hold parliamentary elections, is now in a“Tug of war”, the Guardian reported. The Times said the US was also“Jostling” for influence in the country. President Donald Trump publicly expressed support for Pashnyan last week, and Secretary of State Rubio and Armenian Foreign Minister Mirzoyan signed a strategic partnership agreement in Yerevan. The parties also signed a framework agreement on Critical Minerals and another cooperation agreement on a proposed 43 km transit corridor.
Euronews says Pashnyan is busy with election campaigning, so the country sent Deputy Prime Minister Grigoryan to the Fifth Eurasian Economic Forum of the Eurasian Economic Union in Astana on May 28-29. According to a report by the Russian newspaper Izvestia, Grigoryan said at the meeting, armenia“Remains committed to constructive participation in the Eurasian Economic Union on the basis of mutual respect, equal partnership and consideration of the national interests of all member states”.
Europe news station reported that Armenia has always insisted that it does not intend to leave the Eurasian Economic Union, but at the same time continue to take a“Pro-eu” line. Russia has recently stepped up its warnings to Asian people to show them the potential consequences of Pashnyan’s election victory.
Russian foreign ministry spokeswoman Zakharova said recently that Russia will decide how to develop relations with Armenia based on actions rather than words, “Their words and deeds are increasingly inconsistent.”. The Moscow Komsomolskaya Komsomolskaya newspaper said the expert said any statement by Armenia was“Meaningless” and that it would continue to pursue a pro-western line. The leadership of Armenia has interpreted the national interest in its own way and has thus completely divorced itself from the real interests of the country.