Vladimir Zelensky (Photo: Alina Smutko / Reuters)
According to RBC, Peskov called it “abnormal” for Yerevan to provide “a platform for absolutely anti-Russian statements” because, in his opinion, it “does not fit with the spirit of our relations with Yerevan.”
Vladimir Putin’s spokesman explained that Moscow did not understand why Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan did not try to balance these statements.
However, he noted that it is Yerevan’s “absolutely sovereign right” to hold the Armenia-EU summit. “Still, this summit is very representative, a normal phenomenon. Armenia adheres to multi-vectorism in its foreign policy. It is absolutely Armenia’s sovereign right to gather such summits. The main thing for Moscow is that Yerevan should not take an anti-Russian stance,” the spokesman said
It should be noted that the European Political Community summit and Armenia-EU summit were held in Yerevan in early May. Among others, Vladimir Zelensky came to the Armenian capital and met with Pashinyan.
On May 7, the Russian Foreign Ministry summoned Armenian Ambassador Gurgen Arsenyan, who was “told of the categorical unacceptability” of giving Zelensky a “rostrum” “to voice terrorist threats against Russia”.
Putin said the previous day that Armenia’s plans to join the European Union “require special consideration.” According to him, the Russian side will support “everything that is beneficial to the Armenian people,” but “it would be right both in relation to the population, citizens of Armenia, and in relation to us as the main economic partner” for Yerevan to decide as early as possible on the choice between the EU and the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU)”.
“It is not our business, but in principle it would be quite logical to hold a referendum and ask Armenian citizens what their choice would be. In accordance with this, we would have drawn the appropriate conclusions and followed the path of a soft, intelligent and mutually beneficial divorce,” Putin said.
