Zakharova: EU  using  "sanctions bludgeon" to gain control over  Russia`s trade and investment collaboration with Armenia

ArmInfo.  Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova referred to  EU  officials  who are urging Armenia to join the Collective West's  anti-Russian sanctions as "vampires" who are using the "sanctions  bludgeon" to gain control over Russia's trade and investment  collaboration with Armenia.

During the weekly briefing on December 4, referring to the  anti-Russian statements made by EU High Representative Kaja Kallas  and European Commissioner for Enlargement and European Neighborhood  Policy Marta Kos at a joint press conference with Armenian Foreign  Minister Ararat Mirzoyan, the Russian diplomat suggested  understanding what all these actions resemble. "Do you know what it's  like? There are these vampires-I can now call them Brussels  vampires-who creep up on normal people and say, 'Do you want us to  bite you, and you'll become like us, not reflecting in mirrors, not  being afraid of sunlight, not needing energy, and so on?' It's the  same thing. EU representatives Kaja Kallas and Marta Kos have  literally exposed themselves. These statements once again prove that  Brussels' only goal in its relations with Yerevan is, in fact, to  damage Armenia's relations with Russia," the Russian Foreign Ministry  spokesperson said.

The diplomat stated that the EU has essentially stopped hiding this.  However, she also suggested that perhaps they would like to hide it,  "but their mental capacity doesn't allow it." Zakharova added that  Moscow sees the EU trying at all costs to undermine the traditional,  mutually beneficial, and respectful partnership between Armenia and  Russia in key sectors of the Armenian economy. This includes, she  said, energy. She also questioned what the average Armenian has seen  as negative about Russian-Armenian energy cooperation.

"Nothing. There are infrastructure facilities in Armenia, mutually  respectful dialogue, and mutually beneficial cooperation. Let the  citizens of Armenia see what these vampires have done to their own  citizens," she suggested, reminding the surge in energy prices for  European consumers due to the rejection of Russian products.

Zakharova is confident that the EU is using sanctions to control  Russia's trade and investment relations with Armenia. "We consider  such interference in the sovereignty of states to be absolutely  unacceptable. I would like to emphasize that, unlike Brussels, our  approach to building relations with Armenia, as with any of our other  partners, is not to make demands, not to force friendships against  anyone, not to engage in unrealistic, unrealistic geopolitical  projects. Instead, we develop equal cooperation and seek common  ground for the implementation of mutually beneficial initiatives,  including within the framework of common integration associations,"  Zakharova concluded.

 It is worth noting that on December 2, during a joint press  conference with Armenian Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan, Kaja  Kallas announced the allocation of 15 million euros to Armenia for  mine clearance and confidence-building efforts in the region, as well  as to identify and counter external interference. She noted that  ahead of the parliamentary elections, Russia and its proxies are  carrying out disinformation attacks against Armenia. She added that  the EU stands with Armenia in countering external influence, urging  Armenia to join anti-Russian sanctions.