Putin calls on Armenia to choose between EU and EAEU
Russian President Vladimir Putin has said that Armenia's start of the process of joining the European Union would effectively mean leaving the Eurasian Economic Union. Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan has insisted that Yerevan has not violated its obligations under the EEU.
Putin has urged Armenia to choose between the European Union (EU) and the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU).
Russian President Vladimir Putin and Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan met in Bishkek on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization summit. According to a transcript of the talks released by the Kremlin on September 1, Armenia's plans to join the European Union were among the main topics of discussion.
Putin stressed that Armenia's initiation of the process of joining another economic structure would mean its withdrawal from the EAEU, since it is impossible to be a member of both structures at the same time.
"You said that you did not declare your withdrawal. The adoption of the law on the initiation of the process of joining another economic organization is in fact a declaration of our withdrawal from the organization. Because it is impossible to be both there and here at the same time," Putin said.
The Russian president once again put forward the proposal to hold a referendum on the EU and EAEU in Armenia, stressing the need to ask the public for their opinion on this issue.
Pashinyan, in turn, said that Armenia had analyzed bilateral agreements with Russia and the legal framework within the EAEU. According to him, Yerevan had not identified any cases of violation of Armenia's obligations to Russia or the EAEU.
Pashinyan also said that with the adoption of the law on European integration in 2025, Armenia had effectively abandoned the idea of holding a referendum on choosing between the EU and EAEU.
On August 24, the Armenian prime minister announced that the country intended to begin the process of applying for EU membership in the near future. After that, the European Commission stated that Armenia was now "closer to the European Union than ever before." However, Brussels has also stressed that EU membership is a process that is clearly defined and based on the candidate country's performance.
Putin has previously stated that it is impossible to be a member of the European Union and the Eurasian Economic Union at the same time.
Relations between Russia and Armenia have been strained recently. According to DW, Moscow banned the import of some Armenian products into Russia ahead of parliamentary elections in Armenia.