Putin Warns Armenia on EU-EAEU Membership Incompatibility

Russian President Vladimir Putin warned Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan on Wednesday that Armenia cannot simultaneously pursue membership in both the European Union and the Russia-led Eurasian Economic Union, highlighting the incompatibility of their customs regimes during a tense meeting at the Kremlin.

The April 1 encounter, broadcast on camera, underscored growing frictions between the two nations, which have maintained close ties for decades. Putin stated that Moscow views Armenia's discussions on developing relations with the EU "absolutely calmly," but emphasized that "membership in a customs union with both the EU and the Eurasian Economic Union is impossible." The EAEU, established in 2015, promotes free movement of goods, capital, and labor among its members, including Armenia, Russia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, and Kyrgyzstan.

Putin also pointed to Russia's favorable gas pricing as a key benefit of their partnership. He noted that Moscow supplies natural gas to Armenia at 177.5 dollars per 1,000 cubic meters, compared to over 600 dollars in Europe, describing the difference as "substantial." The Russian leader framed the matter as Armenia's choice, but urged clarity...