EU offers Yerevan no alternative to beneficial ties with Moscow: Russian foreign ministry

Russia and Armenia are bound by security obligations, and the European Union offers Yerevan no tangible alternative in this area, Mikhail Kalugin, director of the Fourth CIS Countries Department of the Russian Foreign Ministry, said in an interview with TASS.

He stressed that Russia and Armenia are bound by a number of treaties that “stand guard over the republic’s security.” “An important element of this architecture remains the CSTO. For us, Yerevan’s ‘freezing’ of its membership in the organization does not change the essence of the obligations. It is hard to imagine what could replace such guarantees. As we saw during the EU-sponsored summits held in Yerevan, no one is offering any tangible alternative,” the diplomat noted.

According to him, Russia, for its part, “not only has something to offer, but has for many years been genuinely and effectively ensuring Armenia’s stability and security.” Among the Russian-Armenian security agreements, Kalugin also cited the 1992 treaties, on guarding the border with Turkey and Iran by Russian border troops, the 1995 agreement on the stationing of a military base, and the 1997 treaty on friendship, cooperation and mutual assistance.

“We are the republic’s main trade and economic partner. Based on 2025 results, 36% of its foreign trade turnover falls on our country, while the EU accounts for around 10%. The Russian market receives 98% of agricultural produce and 78% of exports of strong alcoholic beverages. 98% of foreign trade settlements are conducted in national currencies. Dozens of projects by Russian businesses have been launched in Armenia, with accumulated investment totaling $4.2 billion. Russia is a guarantor of energy and food security. At the same time, goods and energy resources vital to Armenia are supplied at prices significantly below market rates,” said Kalugin, head of the Russian Foreign Ministry department.