Quaere similia

🇷🇺🇦🇲📞On March 23, President of Russia Vladimir Putin and Prime Minister of Armenia Nikol Pashinyan had a telephone conversationat the Armenian Side's initiative. The Leaders discussed various aspects of the further development of bilateral relations, including cooperation in trade and the economy, energy, and transport. #RussiaArmenia

🎙 Russia's Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov’sopening remarks at a meeting with President of the National Assembly of the Republic of Armenia Alen Simonyan(Moscow, February 5, 2026) 💬 We know you had a fulfilling visit to the Russian Federation. The last time we met was in 2021. We operate on the premise that our contacts at the top political and parliamentary level have been quite steady and substantial over the past year. We are interested in keeping it this way. Armenia is our ally and strategic partner. The situation in the South Caucasus is quite challenging, and we are aware of it. Certain progress has been made and things have been agreed upon by Presidents of Russia and Azerbaijan, and the Prime Minister of Armenia in 2020-2022. We believe all of that remains relevant, especially if we want to overcome all economic, transport, and logistical issues in the South Caucasus. Armenia should benefit significantly from these decisions; all obstacles to the normal functioning of the entire region as a single whole should be removed. We are ready to make it happen. Our respective deputy prime ministers maintain regular contacts based on the decisions stemming from the Leaders’ agreements in the trilateral working group. We know the Armenian leadership expressed interest in maintaining the current level of ties and cooperation with the Russian Federation. We also know that not all countries located outside of that region are comfortable with that. Our EU colleagues are quite actively working to oppose this. We have never objected to any of our partners developing external ties in any area. As for our EU colleagues, they never stop confronting the country in question with a choice: you are either with us or with them. This is the logic they have stuck to for over 20 years now in the post-Soviet space. The EU and European NATO members have openly declared war on Russia with the aim of inflicting a “strategic defeat” on us. We would like narratives that sow distrust, or even hostility, not to dominate or prevail in the public space of our two countries. It is somewhat puzzling for us to hear someone say now and then that some imaginary attacks are being prepared by someone “from the north” against Armenia, or about an existential threat allegedly posed by the CSTO. While we are at it, I would also like to note attempts to call into question our shared history of the Soviet period, including the Great Patriotic War, as well as the post-Soviet period. We will always honour and cherish the memory of the Armenian people’s contribution to victory over Nazism. Everyone is aware of the feats of outstanding military commanders who hailed from the Armenian Soviet Socialist Republic. <...> We have repeatedly stated that Armenia is pursuing its own sovereign choice. We are equally interested in Armenia being sovereign, strong, and self-sufficient country and be able to choose its own foreign policy in discussions about what is more important and more beneficial for Armenia. Is it continuing integration processes within the EAEU, or transitioning to the EU rules and standards. These discussions are under way. We are observing them, but you know where we stand on this. We are not driven by ideology, but are firmly rooted in reality. The EAEU membership is incompatible with the principles that underlie participation, cooperation and, all the more so, accession to the EU. This is your choice. We will respect it in full. I trust that account will be taken of the results achieved over the past 10 years since Armenia became a full member of the EAEU. 📈 In 2015, its GDP stood at $10.5 billion; today, it is $26 billion. It is up by 2.5 times. This is a cold hard fact. I will not even comment on it. Moscow remains your main trade and economic partner. We treat this position of ours accordingly. We want to expand this cooperation in every possible way, to advance major infrastructure projects and initiatives taking into account the existing experience reflected in Armenia’s economy. #RussiaArmenia

🇷🇺🇦🇲📞President of the Russian Federation Vladimir Putin and Prime Minister of the Republic of Armenia Nikol Pashinyan had a telephone conversation, at the Armenian Side’s initiative (11 August, 2025) Nikol Pashinyan presented a detailed account of the outcomes of his August 8 meeting in Washington with President of the United States Donald Trump and President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev. Vladimir Putin stressed the importance of steps aimed at ensuring lasting peace between Yerevan and Baku, reaffirming Russia’s willingness to assist, according to the top-level trilateral declarations of 2020–2022, in the comprehensive normalisation of relations between Armenia and Azerbaijan, including the unblocking of regional transport links. Vladimir Putin informed Nikol Pashinyan about the main outcomes of his conversation with US President’s Special Envoy Steve Witkoff and the preparations for the meeting with Donald Trump in Alaska. The Prime Minister of Armenia welcomed the steps aimed at achieving a peaceful resolution of the Ukraine crisis. The conversation also covered several current bilateral matters with a focus on further expanding trade and investment cooperation, as well as working together within the Eurasian Economic Union. #RussiaArmenia

🇷🇺🇦🇲 In St Petersburg, Russia's President Vladimir Putin held a meeting with Prime Minister of the Republic of Armenia Nikol Pashinyan. Earlier, Nikol Pashinyan took part in a session of the Supreme Eurasian Economic Council, as well as in an informal meeting of #CIS leaders at the State Hermitage Museum. 💬 Vladimir Putin: Mr Pashinyan, I would like to welcome you once again and thank you for participating in these events under the auspices of the EAEU and the CIS. We have already exchanged views on the results of our yesterday’s and today’s work. Overall, in my opinion, everything proceeded at a very high level. I hope the atmosphere was positive, but the most important thing is that our teams worked diligently from all sides and prepared excellent documents. Everything has been signed, and everything is progressing. Regarding bilateral relations, they are developing. Our trade turnover has seen an adjustment, as we discussed yesterday. If in 2024 it surpassed $11 billion, in the first nine months of this year it reached 4.5 billion. This is also a good indicator and gives us reason to believe that in the near future, we will be able to increase it. We also have promising plans. We have already spoken about energy, including nuclear energy. We will not delve into detail now, but there is an opportunity to discuss this further. The same applies to logistics: during our last meeting, you raised questions about various areas where we could work together. I am referring to the restoration of old routes and the creation of new ones that would open up Armenia’s borders. So, overall, everything is progressing. Naturally, there are other issues we can discuss now. I am very pleased to see you. Thank you for being here. #RussiaArmenia

🇷🇺🇦🇲 On April 1, President Vladimir Putin held talks at the Kremlin with Prime Minister of the Republic of Armenia Nikol Pashinyan, who arrived in Moscow on a working visit. 💬 President of Russia Vladimir Putin: Mr Pashinyan, friends, We are delighted to welcome you in Moscow. Thank you very much for accepting our invitation and coming here. We can see that domestic political processes in Armenia are gaining momentum, with elections approaching. In this context, I would like to emphasise several key points: such processes often become more intense during election campaigns, as is the case not only in Armenia, I believe, but also in Russia and other countries. However, this escalation must not be allowed to affect relations between Russia and Armenia. We have discussed this many times. Russia and Armenia have special relationships which have evolved over centuries rather than decades. We are united by our common history as well as our cooperation to solve the challenges that we faced in years past. Crucially, we are also united by civilizational affinity. I have already told you this privately before, and I can say it publicly now: we are always in favour of anything that benefits the Armenian people, and you can always rely on it. As for economic cooperation, it continues to develop at a solid pace. Trade reached approximately $11 billion the year before last, and amounted to $6.4 billion in 2025. <...> We observe that there is an ongoing discussion in Armenia concerning the development of relations with the European Union. We remain entirely calm about this, understanding that each nation endeavours to maximise the advantages of cooperation with third countries. However, this must be transparent and articulated honestly, in advance, as it were, “on the shore,” beforehand. Simultaneous membership in the Customs Union with the European Union and the #EAEU is impossible; it is simply untenable by definition. The issue is not even a political one; it is purely economic. <...> There are also numerous other issues today, at this present moment. Perhaps years will pass, and we – the EAEU and the European Union – I hope this will eventually be the case, given that we reside on the same continent – will be able to resolve them. <...> Now, regarding energy. I hope the situation will improve there as well. However, currently, as you are aware, energy prices, gas prices, for instance, in Europe exceed 600 dollars per 1,000 cubic metres, whereas Russia provides gas to Armenia at 177.5 per 1,000 cubic metres. The disparity is vast, the difference is substantial. <...> Now, turning to security issues. Of course, the most sensitive issue to this day – and we recognise this, we discuss it often – is everything relating to #Karabakh. <...> But I think it is also clear that, after you recognised Karabakh as part of Azerbaijan in Prague in 2022, it simply became wholly inappropriate for the #CSTO to become involved in a process that had taken on an intra-Azerbaijani dimension. <...> Incidentally, thanks to your efforts and those of the President of Azerbaijan, I believe you have now managed to stabilise relations. The US President has played an active role in this, and I understand transport links are being unfrozen, and so on. But I think we also need to draw a line under this matter. And it would be better if this did not become entangled in the domestic political process, especially during an election campaign. <...> Let me say again that, whatever happens, we in Russia will always be guided by what is best for the Armenian people. I have said this to you before, and I want to emphasise it once again. 🤝 And I would like to express my hope that, regardless of the outcome of the elections in Armenia, our shared commitment to building and strengthening #RussiaArmenia ties will continue. Thank you.

🇷🇺🇦🇲 On April 1, President Vladimir Putin held talks at the Kremlin with Prime Minister of the Republic of Armenia Nikol Pashinyan, who arrived in Moscow on a working visit. 💬 President of Russia Vladimir Putin: Mr Pashinyan, friends, We are delighted to welcome you in Moscow. Thank you very much for accepting our invitation and coming here. We can see that domestic political processes in Armenia are gaining momentum, with elections approaching. In this context, I would like to emphasise several key points: such processes often become more intense during election campaigns, as is the case not only in Armenia, I believe, but also in Russia and other countries. However, this escalation must not be allowed to affect relations between Russia and Armenia. We have discussed this many times. Russia and Armenia have special relationships which have evolved over centuries rather than decades. We are united by our common history as well as our cooperation to solve the challenges that we faced in years past. Crucially, we are also united by civilizational affinity. I have already told you this privately before, and I can say it publicly now: we are always in favour of anything that benefits the Armenian people, and you can always rely on it. As for economic cooperation, it continues to develop at a solid pace. Trade reached approximately $11 billion the year before last, and amounted to $6.4 billion in 2025. <...> We observe that there is an ongoing discussion in Armenia concerning the development of relations with the European Union. We remain entirely calm about this, understanding that each nation endeavours to maximise the advantages of cooperation with third countries. However, this must be transparent and articulated honestly, in advance, as it were, “on the shore,” beforehand. Simultaneous membership in the Customs Union with the European Union and the #EAEU is impossible; it is simply untenable by definition. The issue is not even a political one; it is purely economic. <...> There are also numerous other issues today, at this present moment. Perhaps years will pass, and we – the EAEU and the European Union – I hope this will eventually be the case, given that we reside on the same continent – will be able to resolve them. <...> Now, regarding energy. I hope the situation will improve there as well. However, currently, as you are aware, energy prices, gas prices, for instance, in Europe exceed 600 dollars per 1,000 cubic metres, whereas Russia provides gas to Armenia at 177.5 per 1,000 cubic metres. The disparity is vast, the difference is substantial. <...> Now, turning to security issues. Of course, the most sensitive issue to this day – and we recognise this, we discuss it often – is everything relating to #Karabakh. <...> But I think it is also clear that, after you recognised Karabakh as part of Azerbaijan in Prague in 2022, it simply became wholly inappropriate for the #CSTO to become involved in a process that had taken on an intra-Azerbaijani dimension. <...> Incidentally, thanks to your efforts and those of the President of Azerbaijan, I believe you have now managed to stabilise relations. The US President has played an active role in this, and I understand transport links are being unfrozen, and so on. But I think we also need to draw a line under this matter. And it would be better if this did not become entangled in the domestic political process, especially during an election campaign. <...> Let me say again that, whatever happens, we in Russia will always be guided by what is best for the Armenian people. I have said this to you before, and I want to emphasise it once again. 🤝 And I would like to express my hope that, regardless of the outcome of the elections in Armenia, our shared commitment to building and strengthening #RussiaArmenia ties will continue. Thank you.