Putin Urges Armenia to Clarify EU Plans as Pashinyan Pushes Back
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Russian President Vladimir Putin told Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan on Tuesday that Yerevan must eventually choose between pursuing European Union membership and remaining in the Russian-led Eurasian Economic Union, bringing a growing dispute over Armenia’s foreign policy direction into their first meeting since Pashinyan’s re-election.
The talks in Bishkek came at a tense point in Armenian-Russian relations as Yerevan deepens ties with the West while seeking to preserve economic relations with Moscow.
Putin acknowledged that Armenia has the right to pursue closer integration with Europe but said doing so while remaining in the EAEU creates complications.
“The sooner Armenia determines its position on EU membership, the better,” Putin said. “We in Moscow need to understand how to develop our relations going forward.”
At the center of the dispute is a law adopted by Armenia’s parliament about a year and a half ago formally launching a process aimed at eventual EU membership.
Putin argued that the move has consequences for Armenia’s place in the EAEU.
“The adoption of a law launching the process of joining another organization amounts to a declaration of withdrawal from the existing organization,” he told Pashinyan.
The Russian president suggested Armenia hold a referendum and allow voters to decide whether the country should pursue EU membership.
Pashinyan rejected that argument, saying Armenia has taken no formal steps to withdraw from the EAEU.
He noted that the bloc’s rules require a member seeking to leave to give at least six months’ notice. Armenia has filed no such notification, he said.
“The situation should be viewed from that starting point,” Pashinyan said.
The Armenian leader also defended his government’s effort to develop alternatives to the country’s traditional reliance on Russia.
“It is important for us that our country has alternatives. That is our legitimate right,” Pashinyan said. “But that does not mean we are dissatisfied with the EAEU, although there are problems there.”
He maintained that the EU law does not violate Armenia’s obligations as an EAEU member and said his government does not believe the question of EU membership is ready for a referendum.
“The issue has not matured to the point where it should be put to a popular referendum,” Pashinyan said.
The disagreement reflects a broader shift in Armenia’s foreign policy after years of deteriorating relations with Russia. Yerevan has expanded political and security ties with the United States and European countries while remaining economically connected to Russia and a member of the EAEU.
Putin emphasized those economic ties during Tuesday’s meeting, calling Russia Armenia’s main economic partner and saying bilateral trade has reached $2.5 billion since the beginning of the year.
“Russia has always supported the development of friendly and mutually beneficial relations with Armenia, which corresponds to the fundamental interests of the peoples of both countries,” Putin said.
Moscow had signaled before the meeting that Armenia’s EU ambitions would be high on the agenda.
Putin’s spokesperson said the Russian president intended to again make Moscow’s case directly to Pashinyan, while stressing that the final decision belonged to Armenians.
“We cannot be more Armenian than the Armenians themselves,” the spokesperson said. “Armenians themselves will decide their fate. We are proposing that they do exactly that — hold a referendum.”
According to the spokesperson, EAEU leaders also addressed Armenia’s position during the bloc’s latest meeting and expect an answer from Yerevan by their next gathering at the end of the year.
Pashinyan pushed back against the suggestion that Armenia should make such a decision according to a timetable set by Moscow or other EAEU members.
“This rhetoric about deadlines is completely unacceptable,” he said. “When it comes to our sovereign rights, we make our own decisions. We are the ones who must decide when to hold a referendum and when not to.”
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