Armenia cannot remain EAEU member with simultaneously switching over  to EU standards - Russian FM

ArmInfo.  Armenia cannot adopt EU standards and remain a member of the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU). Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov stated this at a press conference on the results of 2025.

He recalled that he had repeatedly discussed Armenia's EU membership  and relations with the Eurasian Economic Union with Armenian Foreign  Minister Ararat Mirzoyan. He added that he had raised this issue  during a meeting with Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan during  his visit to Yerevan last year.

"Anyone even slightly familiar with the operating principles of the  EAEU and the EU will say that it is impossible to adopt EU standards  and remain a member of the Eurasian Economic Union," the Russian  foreign minister said, adding that Russian Deputy Prime Minister  Alexei Overchuk had also repeatedly stated this in his contacts with  his Armenian counterpart. Lavrov emphasized that this is simply  technically impossible. He stated that these two structures are  incompatible not only because they apply different trade and  investment regulations that are incompatible, but also because  Brussels wants and is actively promoting the idea of transforming  Armenia's legal framework in line with its standards.

In this regard, the diplomat recalled that he has repeatedly stated  that these standards imply full alignment with EU foreign policy,  which implies adherence to anti-Russian sanctions and anti-Russian  statements.

Lavrov noted that a new strategic agenda for Armenia's partnership  with the EU was signed last December.  "It all stipulates the need  for coordination in foreign policy, trade, and the economy, and the  issue of visa liberalization is being proposed to Armenians. But this  is conditioned by the fact that the EU must have a voice in decisions  regarding law enforcement and border protection. It is clear that our  border guards are stationed in Armenia. The question already arises  as to how this fits in with Yerevan's current commitments. Therefore,  moving toward EU membership, of course, cannot be compatible with  maintaining membership in the EAEU," Lavrov reiterated. He also noted  that if Armenia makes the appropriate decision, as Pashinyan said, it  will be accepted as in line with the will of the Armenian people-that  is the right of the Armenian people and Armenia. 

"I simply want to say that it's difficult to ignore the figures that  characterize Armenia's economic development over the past 10 years.  Armenia joined the EAEU in 2015, when its gross domestic product was  $10.5 billion, and now that figure is $26 billion. Armenia's GDP has  increased more than twentyfold during its membership in the EAEU," he  said.

The diplomat noted that Armenia's unimpeded access to EAEU markets  has enabled Armenia's foreign trade turnover with Russia to reach  record levels and now stands at $14 billion, a level never seen  before.  "But, I repeat, it's up to the Armenian people and the  Armenian leadership to decide, but combining both is absolutely out  of the question," Lavrov concluded.

Earlier, Moscow, through Deputy Prime Minister Alexey Overchuk,  stated that it views Yerevan's decision to launch the EU accession  process as the beginning of Armenia's withdrawal from the Eurasian  Economic Union (EAEU). In December 2025, Overchuk noted that Armenia  must at some point make a final decision between the EAEU and the EU.  Meanwhile, Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan stated on January  14 that Armenia desires to be a full member of the European Union and  will remain in the EAEU until compatibility issues arise.