Lavrov, Pashinyan Set Out Positions Ahead of Putin-Armenia Talks
Russian Foreign Minister Lavrov reiterated that Moscow does not intend to interfere with Armenia’s choice of partners or development path, while arguing that Russia should not
finance Yerevan’s preparations for EU membership through the benefits Armenia receives from the Eurasian Economic Union. Lavrov also questioned whether Armenia could join the European Union ahead of countries that have held candidate status for years. He referred to Türkiye and Serbia, which have remained in the EU accession process for extended periods, and expressed skepticism about the prospects of rapid Armenian membership.
Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan has meanwhile assessed Armenia’s pre-2022 security model, which relied heavily on the Collective Security Treaty Organization, as “primitive.” Speaking at the Comprehensive Security & Resilience 2026 conference in Yerevan, he claimed that the September 2022 events demonstrated the need for a fundamentally different, multilayered approach to national security.
Pashinyan also further noted that Armenia would not object if Russia decided to withdraw its 102nd Military Base from Gyumri. According to the Armenian Prime Minister, Yerevan had never requested its withdrawal, but argued that the events of September 2022 demonstrated that the Russian base had no vital significance for Armenia’s security. He added that Armenia was prepared to discuss the issue if Moscow chose to maintain its military presence.
On Armenia-Russia relations more broadly, Pashinyan emphasized that the two sides were continuing to take stock of their bilateral ties following his meeting with Putin in Bishkek. He framed the process as an examination of the various layers of the relationship, including the railway, gas supplies and other areas of cooperation, while noting that Armenia was negotiating with multiple countries on energy and other issues.
The separate Putin-Pashinyan meeting is expected to address Armenia’s European integration plans, its position within the EAEU and the broader future of Armenian-Russian relations.