Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has welcomed Armenia’s push toward closer ties with the European Union and offered Kyiv’s support, as Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan stated Yerevan would begin preparations for a formal application to join the bloc.

Ukrainian President noted that the renewed high-level dialogue should lead to broader strategic cooperation and welcomed Armenia’s European orientation. “The Armenian people have set a steady course toward closer ties with Europe, and Ukraine commends this choice and is ready to help wherever we can,” Zelenskyy said.

Pashinyan declared in parliament on August 24 that Armenia would likely begin the process of applying for EU membership in the near future, although he did not set a specific deadline. He explained that Armenia must first submit a formal application before the question of EU membership can be put to a nationwide referendum.

Pashinyan has acknowledged that Armenia’s closer ties with the EU have raised concerns in Russia, but argued that the deeper issue is the broader transformation of Armenia-Russia relations. He highlighted that this shift reflects changing regional conditions, including the establishment of peace with Azerbaijan and improving relations with Türkiye, as well as what he described as Russia’s reduced ability to serve as Armenia’s security guarantor due to its own security challenges. Pashinyan presented this process as part of his “balanced and balancing” foreign policy, which he said has helped stabilize Armenia’s external environment by expanding ties with neighboring states such as Georgia, Iran, Türkiye and Azerbaijan, while developing strategic partnerships with the US, EU, France and other countries.

Pashinyan has also made clear that Yerevan does not intend to resume active participation in the Collective Security Treaty Organization. He stressed that Armenia’s interest in the Russian-led military alliance had been exhausted and went as far as saying that he would be glad if Armenia were expelled from the organization.

Russian presidential spokesman Dmitry Peskov responded that Armenia could leave the CSTO if it no longer needed membership. Russian Foreign Ministry official Mikael Agasandyan later stated that the CSTO was no longer cooperating with Armenia in military, military-technical, or other areas. Meanwhile, Russian Security Council Deputy Chairman Dmitry Medvedev argued that Armenia would not ultimately join the European Union but would instead damage its relations with Russia and other EAEU members. 

Alexei Chepa, deputy chairman of the Russian State Duma Committee on International Affairs, went further by warning that Armenia could not simultaneously benefit from Russia’s privileges while pursuing a course favorable to the West. He stated that Armenia could not “sit on two chairs” by remaining in the Eurasian Economic Union while moving toward the EU and warned that Russia would take back what he described as the “gifts” and privileges it had provided to Armenia over the years. Chepa also dismissed the idea that Armenia would face pressure over its position on the CSTO, saying that if Yerevan no longer wanted membership, it could simply leave and that Russia would not prevent it.

Yerevan is presenting European integration, diversification and stronger ties with Western partners as increasingly important priorities, while Russian officials continue to warn of consequences for Armenia’s relations with Moscow and the wider Eurasian framework.