Moscow summoned its envoy for consultations after Armenia held an EU summit, citing concerns over European integration moves.
11:10 PM
Russia announced Saturday it had recalled its ambassador to Armenia for consultations over Yerevan's efforts to strengthen ties with the European Union.
Ambassador S.P. Kopyrkin was summoned to Moscow in connection with steps taken by Armenian leadership toward rapprochement with the EU, according to a statement from the Russian Foreign Ministry.
The move followed Armenia's first-ever summit with the EU earlier in May, which Brussels described as a "leap forward" in relations. Armenia historically maintains strong economic, diplomatic and security ties to Russia, though its government has increasingly pivoted toward the West in recent years.
On May 29, the Russian-led Eurasian Economic Union also announced it would consider suspending Armenia's membership due to the country's aspirations to join the EU. The EAEU urged Yerevan to hold a referendum on the issue.
During a press conference following an EAEU summit in Astana on the same day, Russian President Vladimir Putin warned Armenia about a possible "Ukrainian scenario" as a consequence of its European integration ambitions. Putin stressed that Russia's conflict with Ukraine began over Kyiv's seeking to join the European Union.
Russia has stated that Armenia cannot be both in the EU and the Russian-led Eurasian economic bloc. The Armenian government has argued in recent years that Russia and its allies failed to provide adequate assistance during the 2020 and 2023 wars with Azerbaijan, contributing to its shift in foreign policy orientation.
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