Nikol Pashinyan and Russian President Vladimir Putin held talks focused heavily on Armenia’s European course and the future of Armenian-Russian relations, with Putin pressing Yerevan to clarify whether it intends to pursue European Union membership while remaining in the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU).
Putin said Armenia, as a sovereign state, has the legitimate right to determine its own future and pursue membership in the European Union.
“Armenia’s aspiration to join the EU is a natural and legitimate right of the country and its people. Armenia is a sovereign state, and it is up to the Armenian people to determine the direction of their development,” Putin said.
At the same time, the Russian president argued that Armenia cannot simultaneously belong to both the EU and the EAEU because the two economic blocs operate under different trade regulations, customs systems and technical standards.
“Being in both at the same time is incompatible—that’s the problem,” Putin said.
The issue prompted a direct disagreement between Putin and Pashinyan.
Pashinyan maintained that Armenia has not announced its withdrawal from the EAEU. Putin challenged that position, arguing that Armenia’s adoption of legislation launching a process of European integration already carries consequences for its relationship with the Russian-led economic bloc.
“The adoption of a law initiating the procedure for joining another economic organization effectively constitutes a declaration of withdrawal from ours,” Putin said.
Putin also urged Armenia to resolve the issue through a public vote, recalling that Pashinyan had previously raised the possibility of holding a referendum on Armenia’s European course.
“Well, then make that decision, and we’ll put this issue to rest—that’s all. The simplest thing is to turn to the people and ask, ‘What do you want?’ And that’s it,” Putin said.
Pashinyan, however, said Armenia has effectively abandoned the idea of holding such a referendum following the National Assembly’s adoption of the law concerning the country’s European integration process.
“If the National Assembly had not adopted the law [on the EU], civil society would have collected 350,000 signatures, and if the law was still not adopted, Armenia would have been required to hold a referendum. In effect, by adopting that law, we abandoned the idea of a referendum,” Pashinyan said.
He explained that a referendum is no longer being pursued because, in his words, “the issue is not yet mature.”
The exchange highlighted an apparent contrast between Putin’s call to put Armenia’s geopolitical direction directly before the public and Pashinyan’s acknowledgment that passage of the European integration law effectively removed the prospect of a referendum for the time being.
Putin Points to Armenia’s Economic Dependence on EAEU Market
Putin also presented economic figures to argue for the importance of Armenia’s continued relationship with Russia and the EAEU.
According to figures cited by the Russian president, Russia accounts for approximately 30% of Armenia’s foreign trade, while bilateral trade reached approximately $2.5 billion during the first half of 2026.
Putin said Armenia’s GDP increased from approximately $10.6 billion in 2015 to $29.2 billion by the end of 2025. He also said Armenian exports to EAEU member states have increased tenfold during the country’s participation in Eurasian integration, with the EAEU market now accounting for approximately 36% of Armenia’s foreign trade turnover.
Russian companies also remain among Armenia’s largest taxpayers and continue to maintain a significant presence in the country’s energy sector.
Putin warned that EU membership could fundamentally alter those economic arrangements because Brussels and the EAEU maintain different customs regimes, regulations and product standards.
“Certain issues, such as the regulation of agricultural products and the regulation of various technical norms and standards—they are completely different in the EAEU and the EU,” Putin said.
He also raised concerns about European goods and services potentially entering the Russian market through Armenia under a different trade regime.
“There will definitely be problems related to the flow of European goods, services, and so on into our market via Armenia. There are a thousand issues there,” Putin said.
While stressing that Moscow would respect Armenia’s eventual decision, Putin urged Yerevan not to leave its strategic direction unresolved indefinitely.
“Whatever Armenia decides, so be it. But we must adjust our trade and economic policies in light of these possible decisions,” he said.
Putin nevertheless said Moscow remains interested in preserving friendly and mutually beneficial relations with Yerevan and argued that continued cooperation remains in the interests of both countries and their peoples.
The discussion comes amid a broader shift in Armenia’s foreign policy under Pashinyan. Yerevan has increasingly deepened relations with the European Union and Western countries while distancing itself politically and militarily from Russia. Armenia nevertheless remains a member of the EAEU and maintains extensive economic ties with Russia.
The Armenian government’s newly adopted 2026–2031 program also no longer describes Russia as Armenia’s “strategic ally,” another indication of the changing relationship between Yerevan and Moscow.
Putin’s remarks made clear that Moscow increasingly expects Yerevan to define how far that shift will go, particularly as Armenia seeks closer integration with a European economic system that Russia argues is incompatible with continued EAEU membership.
For now, Pashinyan has acknowledged that the government has moved away from holding a referendum on the issue, even as questions over Armenia’s ultimate geopolitical and economic direction remain unresolved.
