On 13 March, Russian presidential spokesman Dmitry Peskov commented on Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan's remarks on Armenia's possible withdrawal from the Collective Security Treaty Organisation (CSTO). Saying that Moscow had taken note of Pashinyan's remarks, Peskov stressed the importance of conducting extensive work and establishing contacts in order to fully understand the situation. He stressed the need to engage with Armenian counterparts both within the framework of the CSTO and through bilateral channels in order to effectively address the concerns raised by Prime Minister Pashinyan.

In response to Armenia's decision to move to independent border control at Yerevan's Zvartnots airport, Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova provided further insight. She stated that the next steps regarding this decision would be determined after detailed interdepartmental discussions. Zakharova expressed scepticism about the potential benefits of such initiatives for Armenia's security, noting the long history of cooperation between the Russian and Armenian border services. She stressed the importance of maintaining productive cooperation between the two countries in order to achieve common security goals and emphasised the need to maintain friendly relations.

Zakharova also expressed Moscow's concern about the counterproductive and sometimes offensive rhetoric emanating from the Armenian leadership regarding the Collective Security Treaty Organisation (CSTO). She stressed that the CSTO represents not only the member states, but also the people who have worked together for decades to ensure peace and stability in the region. Zakharova pointed out that this rhetoric has also affected Armenian society, noting that many of the risks Armenia faces could have been mitigated if the country's leadership had accepted the deployment of a CSTO observer mission on its territory. She criticised the Armenian authorities for engaging in verbal disputes instead of taking cooperative measures. The Russian Foreign Ministry warned that Armenia's continued course of action could lead to irreparable damage to its allied relations, pose serious risks to its sovereignty, disrupt existing mechanisms for ensuring security and hinder the country's socio-economic development. Zakharova stressed that Russia respects the sovereign right of any state to determine its foreign policy course, including the level of its engagement in international and regional organisations, on the basis of its national interests and commitments. She reiterated that this principle also applies to Armenia's participation in the CSTO.

As Caucasus Watch reported on 12 March, Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan clarified the decision to withdraw Russian border guards from Zvartnots International Airport, saying it's a technical issue, not a political or geopolitical one. Armenia has officially notified Russia of its intention to independently control the border at the airport from 1 August 2024. Pashinyan highlighted concerns over Armenia's questions to the Collective Security Treaty Organisation (CSTO), stressing that Armenia's problems arose when questioning the organisation's zone of responsibility in Armenia, dating back to discussions since 2020. He reiterated that if the CSTO doesn't address Armenia's concerns, Armenia may consider leaving the organisation.