On February 22, Sergey Kopirkin, the Russian Ambassador to Yerevan, stated that Armenia is a close ally of Russia, which is an enduring fact. 

"Of course, defense and security are key areas of our interaction. The traditions of the fighting brotherhood, which have been formed over the centuries, have not gone away. This is a very important part of relations between our states and people," the diplomat stressed. "Now veterans of the Soviet and Armenian armed forces are celebrating two holidays: Armenian Army Day [January 28] and Defender of the Fatherland Day [February 23]," he recalled.

The Ambassador further highlighted the importance of developing bilateral cooperation in the defense sector. "I see no alternative to our allied relations and cooperation in the security sphere. This is in our countries' interests," the Russian diplomatic mission head stated.

Kopirkin summarized how what is happening in the world, the region, and the countries' challenges make Armenia-Russia relations more relevant.