Armenia’s Foreign Ministry refrained from specifying on Thursday when Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan will travel to Russia for discussions on the escalating tensions between the two nations.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov announced on Tuesday that Mirzoyan had accepted an invitation to visit Moscow, marking what could be their first in-person talks in over a year. Lavrov expressed optimism that the visit would occur “soon.”
The last widely publicized meeting between Lavrov and Mirzoyan was held in North Macedonia in November 2023. When Mirzoyan visited Moscow in October 2024 for a meeting of foreign ministers from former Soviet states, he did not engage in separate talks with Lavrov.
Diplomatic engagement between Yerevan and Moscow appears to have waned as relations between the longtime allies continue to deteriorate. This shift aligns with Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan’s efforts to steer Armenia toward closer ties with the West. Last week, the Armenian government officially announced its intention to seek membership in the European Union, prompting strong reactions from Moscow.
Political analyst Narek Sukiasyan suggested on Thursday that Lavrov and other Russian officials are seeking clarity on whether Armenia views EU membership as a long-term aspiration or is considering more immediate, practical steps toward joining.
“If Armenia takes practical steps, a decision will need to be made about its continued membership in the [Russian-led] Eurasian Economic Union, which is incompatible with EU membership,” Sukiasyan told Azatutyan.
Lavrov also cautioned Yerevan against taking actions “against a third party” as a result of a U.S.-Armenian “strategic partnership” agreement signed later on Tuesday. He alleged that the United States would pressure Armenia to act against Moscow, potentially including joining Western sanctions imposed on Russia following its 2022 invasion of Ukraine.
