Russian senator warns Armenia of EU alignment: "Stepping on same rake as Ukraine"

Russian Senator Andrei Klimov cautioned Armenia against gravitating towards the European Union, likening its trajectory to that of Ukraine and warning of potential consequences.

Klimov's remarks came in response to a statement by the Speaker of the Armenian Parliament, Alen Simonyan, affirming Armenia's historical inclination towards the European Union.

"Armenian citizens apparently think that rapprochement with the EU will bring a lot of money. But the West is only interested in obtaining an anti-Russian stronghold in Transcaucasia," Senator Klimov asserted in an interview with the Vzglyad newspaper,

He further elaborated, expressing concern that if the "Russophobic virus" gains traction in Yerevan, it could serve the interests of destabilizing forces in the region, ultimately leading to adverse outcomes for ordinary citizens. Klimov emphasized the geopolitical complexities at play, cautioning Armenia against becoming entangled in broader regional rivalries.

Highlighting his perspective on the European Union, Klimov characterized it as an economic appendage of NATO, suggesting that the EU is grappling with internal challenges and seeking to overcome them by exerting influence on other nations. He underscored the potential risks for Armenia in aligning itself with the EU, urging careful consideration of the implications.

On March 29, Simonyan said that Armenia had always been on the path to the European Union until it was drawn into another system - the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU). Obtaining EU candidate status, according to him, is the most desirable and correct option for Yerevan.

Prior to this, the speaker of the Armenian parliament expressed the opinion that the republic needs to do a lot of work to meet European standards before applying for EU candidate status.