Moscow | July 16, 2025 — The Kremlin has acknowledged Armenia’s recent foreign policy recalibrations, including its growing closeness with the European Union, describing Yerevan’s moves as part of a broader balancing act across geopolitical directions.
“We see that in recent years, Yerevan has been seeking to balance itself across multiple vectors,” Russian presidential spokesperson Dmitry Peskov told RIA Novosti. “We’ll have to wait and see what exactly this rapprochement with the EU brings.”
Peskov stressed that Russia remains interested in maintaining “maximum engagement” with Armenia and emphasized the traditionally close bilateral relationship between the two nations. However, his comments reflect growing unease in Moscow over Armenia’s geopolitical pivot — particularly Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan’s recent overtures toward Western institutions and his sharp criticism of Russia-led alliances like the CSTO.
Observers note that while the Kremlin continues to frame the relationship in friendly terms, Pashinyan’s recent announcements — including Armenia’s application to join the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) and his remarks distancing the country from Moscow’s regional security umbrella — signal a decisive shift in Yerevan’s posturing.
In recent months, Armenia has intensified its engagement with the EU, including high-level diplomatic contacts, economic cooperation, and defense dialogues, raising questions about the future of its long-standing ties with Moscow.
The Kremlin’s restrained response may reflect a cautious effort not to alienate a traditional ally, even as Armenia continues to diversify its foreign policy amid shifting regional power dynamics.
