Russia has announced new restrictions on products from Armenia.
фото: Reuters
Russian President Vladimir Putin held a telephone conversation with Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, congratulating him on his birthday. Meanwhile, Moscow continues to increase economic pressure on Yerevan, imposing new restrictions on Armenian products.
TASS reports this.
In a greeting published on the Kremlin website, Putin noted the “traditionally friendly nature” of relations between the two countries and expressed interest in further developing cooperation.
The telephone conversation took place against the backdrop of a cooling in relations between Moscow and Yerevan due to Armenia’s intensified contacts with the West and the European Union. In the countries of the Eurasian Economic Union, calls are increasingly being heard for Armenia to decide between EU integration and continued membership in the EAEU.
Commenting on the country’s possible European course, Pashinyan stated that the final decision should be made by the Armenian people. At the same time, he emphasized that the question of EU accession currently remains theoretical, as an official application for membership has not yet been submitted.
“Today, this choice is theoretical in nature, and putting a theoretical choice to a referendum is not very reasonable,” the prime minister noted in a video address on June 1.
On the same day, new Russian trade restrictions were announced. The ban included almost all types of live fish and fish products from Armenia.
Rosselkhoznadzor previously restricted the import of a number of Armenian goods, including flowers, Jermuk mineral water, vegetables, herbs, and strawberries.
Furthermore, the Russian side allows for the possibility of revising the agreements on duty-free supplies of gas, petroleum products, and rough diamonds to Armenia if Yerevan further moves closer to the European Union. Moscow has also recalled its ambassador from Armenia for consultations.
Pashinyan himself previously stated that relations between Armenia and Russia are undergoing transformation. He stated that Yerevan will continue cooperation within the EAEU until the choice between European and Eurasian integration becomes inevitable.
Earlier, Kremlin dictator Vladimir Putin criticized Armenia and warned of the “inadmissibility” of pursuing European integration without the Kremlin’s approval, threatening a “Ukrainian scenario.”
As a reminder, the first-ever bilateral summit between Armenia and the European Union took place in Yerevan on May 5. The event was attended by Armenian leadership and top EU officials, including European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and European Council President António Sredstva. Political scientist Oleg Sahakyan, speaking on “Pryamoy,” analyzed the shifting geopolitical emphasis in the region, noting the gradual displacement of Russian influence and the growing role of Kyiv as a security partner.
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