Putin Warns Armenia: EU Ambitions Could Cost Cheap Russian Energy

President Vladimir Putin has issued a stark warning to Armenia, a long-term ally, stating that its pursuit of European Union membership could lead to the loss of preferential access to Russian oil and gas. This warning comes just before Armenia's parliamentary elections on Sunday, where polls suggest Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan's Western-leaning party is poised for victory.

The threat is not hollow. Armenia, a landlocked nation of 3 million with deep historical ties to Russia, relies heavily on Moscow. Russia has already imposed temporary bans on key Armenian exports, seemingly as a pre-election tactic. Putin's words also underscore a broader challenge for Moscow: a global struggle to maintain its geopolitical standing while heavily engaged in the protracted war in Ukraine.

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Of course, we are deeply concerned about the Armenian authorities’ policy of rapprochement with the Euro-Atlantic community whose core policy is directed against Moscow.

As Russia dedicates resources to the conflict, the European Union and the United States are actively engaging and exerting influence over traditional Russian allies. This strategic maneuvering extends from the Americas to Central Asia and even parts of Africa, where Russian influence is reportedly under pressure. Armenia, a recipient of Russian aid and host to a Russian military base, has recently signed a partnership agreement with the U.S. and passed legislation paving the way for EU accession.

Russia's Foreign Ministry spokeswoman, Maria Zakharova, expressed deep concern over Armenia's "rapprochement with the Euro-Atlantic community," accusing "Anglo-Saxons" of attempting to "detach" Armenia from Russia. Russian analysts suggest that Moscow perceives a coordinated Western effort to diminish its influence in the South Caucasus region. Some sources close to the Russian government indicate that countries like Armenia are observing the outcome of the Ukraine war, simultaneously building new relationships while Russia is preoccupied.

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The Anglo-Saxons are openly boasting about 'detaching' Armenia, as they say, from the bear hug of 'authoritarian Russia'.