Russian envoy: US sees Armenia as geopolitical tool against Russia, Iran UPDATED

Russian Ambassador to Yerevan, Sergei Kopirkin, unveiled what he described as the United States' underlying attitude towards its relationship with Armenia, portraying it as a component of the broader geopolitical rivalry between Russia and the US.

"Unfortunately, we understand that our relations are becoming the object of a wider conflict, and this fact is not hidden, for example, by the United States... The United States views relations with Armenia in the context of countering Russia and Iran," Kopirkin asserted in a candid interview with Armenian portal 24News.

His remarks shed light on what he perceives as a strategic approach by the US, seemingly prioritizing geopolitical interests over bilateral ties with Armenia.

Expressing concern over this trend, the diplomat cautioned that such developments could have adverse consequences for the longstanding interstate relations between Russia and Armenia. The assertion underscores Russia's apprehension regarding what it sees as the US's strategic calculations in the region.

This statement follows a recent announcement by the Russian Foreign Ministry’s spokeswoman Maria Zakharova, who expressed reservations about an upcoming meeting between Armenian leadership and representatives of the European Union and the United States, scheduled for April 5. Zakharova highlighted Russia's unease, citing explicit discussions from Washington and Brussels about the meeting's perceived anti-Russian orientation.

Furthermore, Kopirkin refuted claims made by certain representatives of the Armenian authorities suggesting that the Russian Federation is coercing Armenia into joining the Union State (US) of Russia and Belarus.

Expressing bewilderment regarding the origins of such assertions, Ambassador Kopirkin emphasized that the topic of Armenia's accession to the Union State has never been raised in discussions between Moscow and Yerevan. He clarified that while there are public organizations and political factions within Armenia advocating for this process, it holds no relevance to the official bilateral relations between Russia and Armenia.

"As a person, as a Russian, as an ambassador, I have sympathy for this, but I do not know that this issue has ever been raised as a subject of our political dialogue and discussion," Kopirkin remarked.

The denial comes in response to recent statements by Speaker of the Armenian Parliament, Alen Simonyan, who suggested that Armenia had been compelled to join the Union State. Simonyan reiterated Armenia's historical inclination towards the European Union and asserted that obtaining EU candidate status remains the most desirable and appropriate course of action for Yerevan.

This isn't the first time such claims have surfaced. In late February, Simonyan alleged attempts to pressure Armenia into joining the Union State.