Russia Begins to Lose Allies, This Country Refuses to be Controlled by Putin
Russia is increasing pressure on Armenia ahead of the country’s parliamentary elections. President Vladimir Putin has warned Yerevan that it risks losing access to cheap Russian oil and gas if it continues its ambitions to join the European Union (EU).
This warning comes as the pro-Western party of Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan is expected to win the elections. “We are, of course, very concerned by the policy of the Armenian government, which seeks to approach the Euro-Atlantic community through policies essentially directed against Moscow,” said Maria Zakharova, spokesperson for the Russian Foreign Ministry.
She added that Western nations are openly attempting to “detach” Armenia from Russian influence. The Kremlin’s move reflects Moscow’s increasing anxiety over its diminishing geopolitical influence globally. Following more than four years of war in Ukraine without signs of an end, Russia has had to allocate massive resources to the conflict, while the United States and the European Union have become increasingly active in approaching nations that were previously within Moscow’s sphere of influence.
Armenia serves as a prominent example. The nation of approximately 3 million people has relied on Russian economic and security support for decades. In addition to hosting a Russian military base, Armenia is a member of the Moscow-led Eurasian Economic Union. However, relations between the two nations have begun to fray in recent years. Armenia signed a partnership agreement with the United States last month and has secured support from US President Donald Trump. Furthermore, the Pashinyan government has passed legislation providing the legal framework for the EU accession process.
In response, Russia has taken several coercive measures. Moscow has temporarily suspended imports of various Armenian products, threatened to halt exports of oil, gas, and rough diamonds at preferential prices, and signalled the possibility of Armenia’s expulsion from the Eurasian Economic Union. Russia has also recalled its ambassador to Armenia for consultations.
A source close to the Russian government stated that Moscow observes several former allies waiting for the final outcome of the war in Ukraine before determining their political direction. Simultaneously, these nations are building new ties with the West while Russian attention is preoccupied by the war.
Russian anxiety has intensified after Armenia hosted a meeting of several European leaders, including Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, last month. For the Kremlin, this is viewed as a signal that Yerevan is drifting further from the Russian orbit. Russian military analysts suggest that Moscow is facing a systematic Western effort to reduce its influence in the South Caucasus, noting that Russia may need to adjust its strategy by strengthening soft power and economic instruments to maintain its position.