MFA: Russia ready for talks with Yerevan on parameters of Trump Route

Russia is prepared to engage in consultations with Yerevan regarding the parameters of the Trump Route initiative, according to Mikhail Kalugin, Director of the Fourth CIS Countries Department at the Russian Foreign Ministry.

As reported by Caliber.Az, citing Armenian media, Kalugin said that the specifics of the Armenian-US project still require careful examination, but emphasised that Moscow remains open to dialogue both on the substance of the initiative and on the possibility of Russia’s involvement. He stressed that there are “more than sufficient grounds” for holding such discussions.

In practical terms, the diplomat noted, the initiative relates to a section of a route that had already been agreed upon within the framework of a trilateral working group.

“Our company, South Caucasus Railway — a subsidiary of Russian Railways — holds the concession to operate Armenia’s railway network. The region uses Russian-gauge railways. Most of the route will pass through an area under the responsibility of our border guards,” Kalugin said.

He also pointed to Armenia’s membership in the Eurasian Economic Union, underscoring that implementation of the initiative without Russia’s participation would be difficult.

The Trump Route Infrastructure and Peace Project (TRIPP) is a major regional infrastructure initiative aimed at connecting mainland Azerbaijan with its Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic exclave via Armenia’s Syunik region.

The project is backed by a declaration signed on August 8, 2025, in Washington by the leaders of Azerbaijan and Armenia together with US President Donald Trump. TRIPP is intended to function both as a confidence-building peace mechanism and as a strategic logistics corridor.

The initiative includes the construction of new railway and road links, as well as oil and gas pipelines, fibre-optic communications networks, and power transmission lines. Its broader objective is to integrate South Caucasus countries into the “Middle Corridor” trade route linking Europe and Asia, thereby enhancing regional transit capacity, trade flows, and economic diversification.

By Tamilla Hasanova