Zakharova: Armenia views relations with Russia as tool for  financially securing reorientation toward EU

ArmInfo.  Armenia views relations with Russia as a tool for financially securing a  reorientation toward a European path, stated Russian Foreign Ministry  spokesperson Maria Zakharova.

"There is a persistent feeling that relations with Moscow are  perceived in Yerevan as a kind of 'tactical' tool - for financially  securing a reorientation toward a European path," Zakharova said in  an interview with RIA Novosti.

On May 9, Russian President Vladimir Putin, speaking to journalists,  suggested that Armenia decide on its membership in the EU and the  Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) as soon as possible, expressing its  readiness to "begin a civilized divorce" if necessary. Yerevan  responded by stating that it would leave the EAEU whenever it deemed  it necessary. On May 29, the heads of four of the five EAEU countries  adopted a resolution recommending that Armenia hold a referendum on  its continued membership in the EAEU.  That same day, the Russian  president stated that Armenia could not afford to sit on two sides  and needed to make a choice as soon as possible.

It should be noted that on January 9, 2025, the Armenian government  approved a draft law on the start of the process of joining the  European Union, proposed by the "Eurakve" civic initiative. The draft  law was sent to the Armenian parliament for approval. On March 26,  the parliament adopted it in its final reading and sent it to the  president for signature. The document was signed on April 4 of that  year. Moscow stated that Russia had conveyed to Armenia that  simultaneous membership in the Eurasian Economic Union and the  European Union was impossible. -