Russian FM: Yerevan will eventually be forced into anti-Russian stance

Russia has warned that at some point the European Union will demand full political alignment from Armenia, including support for Brussels’ increasingly anti-Russian foreign policy.

Vladislav Maslennikov, director of the European Affairs Department at Russia’s Foreign Ministry, told Russian media in an interview that Armenia should be aware that meeting all EU demands does not guarantee membership.

“At a certain stage, Brussels begins to require complete solidarity with its foreign policy line, which today is openly anti-Russian,” Maslennikov said, commenting on Armenia’s Euro-integration plans.

He cited the Western Balkans as an example, noting that countries such as Albania, North Macedonia, Montenegro, and Serbia have spent decades striving to join the EU. Despite meeting strict and often unpopular conditions, they remain far from membership.

Maslennikov also questioned the economic benefits of EU membership, highlighting that the Baltic states, after 20 years in the union, have shown only modest growth and demographic performance.

By Aghakazim Guliyev