“I don’t think Armenians want to join a militarized Europe”: Overkchuk

Alexey Overchuk, Deputy Prime Minister of Russia, said in an interview with Vesti news agency during a Russian delegation visit to Ashgabat that nobody wants Armenia to leave the EAEU, including Armenia’s own leadership.

He made the remark in response to a question about whether Armenia is leaving the CIS or the EAEU.

“You know, the situation is quite strange and non-trivial, because nobody wants Armenia to leave the EAEU, and Armenia’s leaders also state that they do not want to leave the EAEU,” Overchuk noted.
He added that Russia would like Armenia to remain in the EAEU.

“We want Armenia to remain in the EAEU, to prosper, and to continue developing at the same pace it has maintained throughout the years it has been in the EAEU,” the Deputy Prime Minister of Russia said.

Overchuk expressed doubt that the people of Armenia genuinely wish to join the European Union, which he said “practically wants to go to war with Russia.” He emphasized that Armenians are a people “close and friendly to us.”

“With all of that said, Armenia is a country close to us, and Armenians are a people very close to us, a friendly people. I don’t think they want to join a militarized Europe that practically wants to go to war with Russia,” Overchuk said.