By Siranush Adamyan
Russia’s Security Council Deputy Chairman Dmitry Medvedev said becoming a “new Ukraine” would be the worst outcome for Armenia, criticizing its leadership’s shift in foreign policy.
Medvedev made the remarks in an interview with Iran’s state broadcaster, according to an RBC report published on October 4. He posted a video of the interview on the messaging platform Max.
“The current Armenian leadership decided it was right to change the direction of its development. I am certain that this, too, will lead to nothing good. The worst thing that could happen to Armenia is its transformation into a new Ukraine,” Medvedev said.
He accused the West of testing the strength of relations between Russia and Armenia.
The remarks come amid strained ties between Moscow and Yerevan as Armenia pursues closer relations with the European Union. Armenia’s parliament adopted a law launching the EU accession process in March 2025.
In late August 2026, Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan said Armenia would soon begin the process of submitting a formal membership application.
Russian President Vladimir Putin said Armenia’s law initiating the EU accession process effectively amounted to an application to leave the Eurasian Economic Union, the Russian-led economic bloc.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov accused Western countries in May of trying to pull Russia’s allies away from Moscow.
In the interview, Medvedev also said Russia and Iran could manage their regional affairs independently, noting that both countries are part of the Caspian region.
“We do not need anyone else to be friends, trade and develop,” he said.
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