Putin and Pashinyan clash publicly over Armenia’s future in Eurasian Economic Union

A formal conversation between Vladimir Putin and Nikol Pashinyan turned into a public dispute over Armenia’s future in the Eurasian Economic Union.

At their meeting in Bishkek, Putin pressed Armenia’s prime minister to organize a referendum as soon as possible. Voters, he said, should decide whether Armenia would pursue membership in the European Union or remain in the Eurasian Economic Union.

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natural

Putin acknowledged that Armenia’s ambition to join the EU was a “natural” and “legitimate” right. But he warned that such a course could create “difficulties” for Armenia’s membership in the Eurasian bloc, cost the country the benefits of its common market and disrupt trade chains.

“The sooner we decide, the better,” Putin said. He added that Moscow needed to understand how to develop its economic relationship with Yerevan. As an argument for Eurasian integration, he cited figures that he said showed Armenia’s GDP had nearly tripled since 2015, exports to Eurasian Economic Union countries had increased tenfold and the bloc accounted for about 36% of Armenia’s foreign trade turnover.

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legitimate

Putin also referred to Pashinyan’s earlier comments about a referendum and to a May 29 statement by the leaders of the four Eurasian Economic Union countries. That statement urged Armenia to hold a nationwide vote “in the shortest possible time” on joining the EU or continuing its membership in the Eurasian union.

Pashinyan rejected Putin’s interpretation. He said Armenia had examined its treaty obligations to Russia and the Eurasian Economic Union and found no violations. According to Pashinyan, a law adopted in 2025 to begin the EU accession process did not breach those commitments. He also said the union’s treaty contained a separate withdrawal procedure, which Yerevan had not initiated.

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The sooner we decide, the better