Russia’s Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mikhail Galuzin, emphasized in an interview on Russia 24 television that Russia’s role in facilitating dialogue between Armenia and Azerbaijan has no alternative.

Galuzin remarked on the ongoing process of settling the conflict between Armenia and Azerbaijan, stating that Russia's current objective is to assist both countries in their pursuit of reconciliation and peaceful cooperation.

“Under the auspices of Russia, at the initiative of [Russian] President Vladimir Putin, the foundations of relations between Armenia and Azerbaijan were established,” the Russian official noted.

Galuzin emphasized that Russia is assisting in various aspects related to signing a peace treaty between Armenia and Azerbaijan. He also mentioned that the Russian side possesses the necessary materials for delimiting the Armenian-Azerbaijani border.

The diplomat expressed hope that Armenia would resume participating in the tripartite settlement process instead of involving foreign actors. Furthermore, he highlighted that Moscow is consistently prepared to offer a platform for dialogue.

In recent months, Moscow has extended multiple invitations to host high-level talks between Armenia and Azerbaijan, aiming to reclaim the initiative in the negotiation process. In December, the Russian Foreign Ministry criticized the Armenian leadership for disregarding these invitations. The ministry cautioned that Armenia’s inclination toward Western mediation could lead to further challenges for the Armenian people.

Maria Zakharova, the official spokesperson of the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, highlighted during a recent press briefing in response to a reporter’s query regarding Armenian PM Nikol Pashinyan’s statement suggesting that, for various reasons, Russia cannot be Armenia’s primary partner in certain sectors: “Our countries maintain strong alliances. The well-being of the Armenian people is intricately linked with fostering neighborly relations with Russia, and we trust that the Armenian leadership will consider this amidst current geopolitical shifts and make informed decisions. It’s important to note that this perspective is not just Russia’s viewpoint but underscores the interests of the Armenian people themselves. 

Zakharova pointed out that Armenia benefits from the collective security guarantees provided by the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO), especially in the event of potential aggression. To reinforce the Collective Security Treaty, Russia and Armenia signed an agreement in 2016 to establish a joint group of troops to ensure both parties' security in the Caucasus collective security region.

Additionally, she highlighted Armenia's extensive organizational capabilities and its substantial potential built on years of experience.

“We are convinced that, unlike the fake monitors of the European Union mission [in Armenia], which deal with matters far from the stated goals, the CSTO can play a stabilizing role in the South Caucasus,” the Russian FM spox concluded.