Armenia’s Prime Minister, Nikol Pashinyan, visited Moscow and met with Russian President Vladimir Putin amid escalating tensions between the two allies. The meeting took place after a summit of the Eurasian Economic Union, a Moscow-dominated economic alliance that both leaders attended earlier in the day. This comes after Azerbaijan launched a military campaign to reclaim the Karabakh region, leading to strained relations between Armenia and Russia. Pashinyan and Putin discussed bilateral trade and security issues in the region during the talks.
Armenian authorities have accused Russian peacekeepers deployed to Nagorno-Karabakh of failing to stop Azerbaijan’s military campaign. Moscow, which has a military base in Armenia, denied the accusations, stating that its troops did not have the mandate to intervene in the conflict. The Kremlin has also been displeased with Pashinyan’s attempts to strengthen ties with the West and move away from Moscow-dominated security and economic alliances. Armenia’s decision to stop paying fees to the Collective Security Treaty Organization was announced during Pashinyan’s visit to Moscow, further straining relations with Russia.
Armenia’s shift towards the West has caused tension with Russia, especially as Pashinyan seeks closer ties with the European Union and NATO. The country’s decision to join the International Criminal Court, which indicted Putin for alleged war crimes in Ukraine, has also irked the Kremlin. Despite these differences, the Kremlin has expressed a willingness to continue dialogue with Armenia. Dmitry Peskov, a spokesman for Putin, acknowledged the existence of problems in bilateral relations but emphasized the importance of maintaining dialogue.
Russia’s focus on the conflict in Ukraine has put a strain on its relations with Armenia, as the country seeks to align itself more closely with Western allies. The ongoing conflict in Ukraine has led to public concern in Russia about Armenia’s westward shift. However, both countries have expressed a commitment to continuing their dialogue and addressing their differences. Despite the challenges in their relationship, Russia and Armenia are working to find common ground and navigate the changing geopolitical dynamics in the region. Putin and Pashinyan’s meeting in Moscow signals a continued effort to address the issues facing their countries and maintain their historical alliance.
