Kremlin expects Armenia to take part in EAEU summit in Astana

Moscow expects Yerevan to participate in upcoming Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) events in Astana in one form or another, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov told reporters.

“If I am not mistaken, Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan will not attend due to considerations related to the election campaign. But at the same time, we expect that the Armenian side will still take part in this very important meeting in one way or another, continuing its membership in the EAEU,” the Kremlin representative said.

Armenia has increasingly tried to balance its membership in the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) with closer political ties to the European Union. Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan has repeatedly stated that while Armenia is moving toward EU standards and deeper cooperation with Europe, it still intends to remain in the EAEU for now.

In January 2025, the Armenian government approved a bill launching the process toward eventual European Union accession, a move widely viewed as part of Yerevan’s gradual geopolitical shift away from Moscow. Russian officials responded by warning that Armenia could not simultaneously remain fully integrated in both the EU and the EAEU frameworks.

Tensions between Armenia and Russia have also deepened after Yerevan effectively froze its participation in the Moscow-led CSTO military alliance, accusing the bloc of failing to meet Armenia’s security expectations. Since then, Armenia has intensified contacts with Western partners while insisting that only Yerevan itself can decide the future of its EAEU membership.

By Jeyhun Aghazada