Forecast: Russia to keep balancing between Armenia and Azerbaijan trying to lead settlement to diplomatic format

ArmInfo. Russian political analyst Sergey Markedonov thinks that Russia will keep balancing 
between Armenia and Azerbaijan trying to lead the settlement to diplomatic format. 

Talking to ArmInfo, Markedonov said that for the presidents of Armenia and Azerbaijan it is very important to know the content of Vladimir Putin's talks with the opposite side. "In this light, I'd 
like to recall the surprising similarity of his statements on Karabakh in Baku and Moscow. The point at the issue is that Moscow does not see the conflict's settlement through victory of any of the sides and without compromises. I can draw a conclusion that Moscow prefers a solution that will leave no defeated."

In his words, Moscow is not going to involve any countries, particularly, Azerbaijan into the EAEU forcefully, the more so as Azerbaijan cannot become a full-fledged member of the EAEU because of the unresolved Karabakh conflict. 

Markedonov believes that Baku and Yerevan often forget that Russia seeks to protect its own interests and adopt decisions favorable for it too. One of such decisions is to prevent a new flare up of conflict near its borders, he said. Therefore, Markedonov said, Moscow is trying to postpone its final choice not to worsen its own state.