Envoy: Russia ready to assist on “Trump Route” if requested

Russia’s stance on the so-called “Trump Route” (TRIPP) remains clear and unchanged, according to Sergey Kopyrkin, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Russia to Armenia.

Speaking in an interview with Sputnik Armenia, Kopyrkin said Moscow has consistently advocated a comprehensive and durable approach to resolving outstanding issues between the countries of the South Caucasus.

“From the very beginning, Russia has taken the position that it is necessary to resolve all the sensitive issues that exist in relations between the countries of the region, and to do so on a solid, long-term basis, so that the South Caucasus can fully realise its potential—both transit-related and otherwise,” he said. “Russia, together with Armenia and Azerbaijan, worked very actively on this, including on the opening of communications.”

Kopyrkin emphasised that the progress achieved through trilateral engagement has played a decisive role in stabilising the situation. “It is absolutely obvious that the groundwork developed in the trilateral format and within the framework of the high-level statements adopted between 2020 and 2022 served precisely as the foundation that ensured this normalisation,” he noted.

He stressed that Moscow’s approach has not shifted and reiterated Russia’s readiness to remain involved if requested. “Russia’s position has not changed. Even now, we clearly and unequivocally state that we are ready to provide assistance in the form and to the extent that will be requested by the parties,” Kopyrkin said.

For reference, TRIPP—also referred to as the Zangezur Corridor—is a major regional infrastructure initiative intended to connect mainland Azerbaijan with its Nakhchivan exclave through Armenia’s Syunik (Zangezur) region. The project was formalised by a declaration signed on August 8, 2025, in Washington by the leaders of Azerbaijan and Armenia, alongside US President Donald Trump.

The initiative is designed to function both as a peace-building mechanism and as a strategic logistics corridor. It предусматривает the construction of new railways and roads, as well as oil and gas pipelines, fibre-optic communication networks, and electricity transmission lines. Its broader objective is to integrate the countries of the South Caucasus into the “Middle Corridor” trade route linking Europe and Asia, thereby expanding regional transit capacity, trade flows, and economic diversification.

By Tamilla Hasanova