Putin and Pashinyan Discuss Key Regional Issues and Armenia-Russia Relations in Kremlin

On the sidelines of the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) summit in Moscow, Russian President Vladimir Putin and Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan held crucial talks aimed at addressing several important issues, including the normalization of relations between Armenia and Azerbaijan. This high-level meeting comes as tensions between the two South Caucasus nations continue to simmer, with the international community watching closely for any signs of progress.

The main topic of discussion between the two leaders was the ongoing efforts to normalize relations between Armenia and Azerbaijan. The two countries have been in a prolonged conflict over the Nagorno-Karabakh region, and the peace process has faced numerous obstacles. Earlier in the day, Putin had met separately with Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev, where the topic of regional stability was also discussed.

While the exact details of their discussion remain private, Dmitry Peskov, the press secretary for President Putin, confirmed that the issue of the "Zangezur corridor" was touched upon during the separate talks with both Pashinyan and Aliyev. The proposed corridor, which would connect Azerbaijan to its exclave of Nakhchivan through Armenian territory, remains a contentious issue in the negotiations.

Trade and economic cooperation were also key points in the conversation. Putin expressed optimism about the rapid growth in trade between Armenia and Russia, noting that in 2023, trade had reached $7.4 billion. This year, trade has increased even further, with the first half of 2024 seeing a 2.5-fold rise, bringing the total to $8.3 billion. If this pace continues, Putin said, trade between the two nations could reach a record $14-16 billion by the end of the year.

Russia remains Armenia's largest investor, and both leaders emphasized the importance of maintaining and expanding these economic ties. Putin also emphasized the need for further cooperation in humanitarian and educational fields, which would strengthen the longstanding relationship between the two nations.

Looking ahead, President Putin invited Prime Minister Pashinyan to attend the BRICS summit in Kazan, Russia, from October 22 to 24, 2024. Putin expressed his hope that the summit would be both useful and interesting for Armenia, noting that many agreements are expected to be reached. He also pointed out that the event would provide an opportunity for Armenia to engage with various international partners.

Pashinyan thanked Putin for the invitation and acknowledged the significance of the BRICS summit for building bilateral and multilateral discussions on important global and regional issues.

During the meeting, Pashinyan also presented details of Armenia's "Crossroads of Peace" project to President Putin. The project, which focuses on promoting regional stability and cooperation, shows Armenia’s desire to contribute to peaceful resolutions in the South Caucasus. Pashinyan shared a brochure detailing the initiative and voiced concern over the language used by some Russian officials when discussing regional matters. He stressed that Armenia’s approach to regional communication has remained consistent both in public and private discussions.

An important agreement was reached concerning border security between Armenia and its neighbors, Iran and Turkey. From January 1, 2025, the Armenian National Security Service (NSS) will take over responsibility for guarding the country's borders with both Iran and Turkey, a role previously performed by Russian border troops. Pashinyan expressed his gratitude to Putin for Russia’s decades-long support in managing Armenia’s borders and emphasized the significance of this transition for Armenia's sovereignty and security.

Pashinyan also mentioned the ongoing political dialogue between Armenia and Russia. He praised the frequent communication between the two nations, citing recent visits by Russian officials to Armenia, including Russian Deputy Prime Minister Alexei Overchuk, who led discussions on economic and political cooperation. These meetings, Pashinyan said, have helped both nations address critical issues and advance mutual interests.

The talks between President Putin and Prime Minister Pashinyan show the importance of the Armenia-Russia relationship, especially at a time when Armenia is navigating complex regional dynamics.