The direction of Armenia's policy has been named the topic of the meeting between Putin and Pashinyan.

14:05 31.07.2026

Armenia on the path to the EU? What is changing in Yerevan's relations with Russia

After the parliamentary elections, Armenia found itself once again at the center of geopolitical confrontation between Russia and the European Union. Yerevan declares its intention to continue the course towards Eurointegration, Moscow is increasing economic pressure and demanding a choice between the EU and the EAEU, while internal disputes about the cost of such a choice continue. Journalists from JAMnews investigated how Armenia arrived at its current stage of relations with Russia and Europe, what risks and opportunities experts see, and what the country's residents think about its future.

Armenian authorities should determine their participation in the EU or EAEU as soon as possible, for example, by holding a referendum, which could serve as the basis for an "intelligent divorce" between the two countries, Putin stated on May 9. Armenia cannot sever economic ties with Russia and the EAEU, but has not eliminated the distrust between Yerevan and Moscow against the backdrop of the Armenian authorities' rhetoric about the country's accession to the European Union, analysts pointed out.

The President of Russia, Vladimir Putin, during a meeting with the Prime Minister of Armenia, Nikol Pashinyan, in Bishkek, will take the opportunity to discuss Yerevan's desire to join the EU, said the press secretary of the Russian head of state, Dmitry Peskov.

"Every time, contact at the highest level is important. The President, of course, will use this meeting to once again renew our arguments," he said, as quoted by "Interfax".

"We cannot be Armenians more than the Armenians themselves. And, of course, the decision about their fate will be made by the Armenians themselves. And we are precisely offering them to do this, to hold a referendum," continued the quote from the president's press secretary, RIA "Novosti".

Putin will participate in the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) summit, which will take place in Kyrgyzstan from August 31 to September 1, and alongside other leaders of foreign states, the participation of the President of Azerbaijan, Ilham Aliyev, and the Prime Minister of Armenia, Nikol Pashinyan, is also expected, the publication states.