Zakharova: Yerevan views relations with Moscow as a tactical tool to finance its reorientation toward the EU

ArmInfo.Yerevan views relations with Moscow as a tactical tool for financial support of reorientation toward the European path,  as stated byy Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova on May 28.

"This civilizational choice—as the Armenian leadership in Yerevan says—has already been made; it is allegedly outlined in the law adopted in April 2025 on the beginning of Armenia's accession process to the EU. When they came to Moscow, they said, 'Don't pay attention to this—it's just on paper.' Of course, we cannot help but be concerned about the Armenian leadership's course toward rapprochement with the Euro-Atlantic community, whose main political line is directed precisely against Moscow," she added.

The diplomat reminded that the European Union itself is transforming from an economic bloc into an aggressive militaristic alliance. "We are witnessing its factual merging with NATO. The Anglo-Saxons openly boast about how they are pulling Armenia, in their words, 'out of the clutches' of authoritarian Russia, and are integrating it into their military-political mechanisms," she continued, noting that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy's visit to Yerevan served as a clear marker of this trend.

At the same time, she pointed out that it is obvious that such a course by the Armenian authorities erodes the mutually beneficial strategic Armenian-Russian partnership and creates risks for Yerevan to lose all the advantages it currently receives.

In this context, she reminded that Russia remains Armenia's leading economic and investment partner. According to her, at the end of 2025, the Russian Federation's share in Armenia's foreign trade stood at approximately 36%, with up to 98% of Armenian agricultural exports and nearly 80% of its strong alcoholic beverage exports going to the Russian market. She added that remittances from Russia to Armenia reached $3.9 billion last year, accounting for 13% of Armenia's GDP. She also noted the job creation generated by Russian businesses operating in Armenia.

"As is well known, Armenian citizens enjoy certain concessions regarding temporary residence and work in our country. Russia is the guarantor of security in the energy and food sectors. The country receives Russian gas at a preferential price, almost 3.5 times lower than the market price. Our country almost completely covers the republic's needs for gas, fuel, and vital food products. Furthermore, these are supplied at prices below market value, and export restrictions imposed on certain goods leaving our country generally do not apply to Armenia," she continued.

The Foreign Ministry spokesperson concluded by acknowledging that Armenian citizens will ultimately choose the path of their country's future development themselves. "It is for them to decide. We would like to emphasize that Russia is interested in a genuinely sovereign and independent Armenia, which we have always perceived as an equal partner and friend," the diplomat summarized.