By Lia Avagyan
Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan said he plans to visit Russia three times in December for negotiations, expressing hope that Yerevan and Moscow can maintain friendly relations despite growing tensions over Armenia's efforts to deepen ties with the European Union.
Pashinyan announced the visits, scheduled for December 3, 11 and 22, during a discussion with experts at the Institute of International and European Affairs in Dublin on November 13.
The prime minister did not specify whom he would meet or what issues would be discussed.
"In December, I will be in Russia three times. I will visit Russia on December 3, December 11 and December 22 for negotiations, and I hope we will be able to maintain a friendly atmosphere in our relations with the Russian Federation," Pashinyan said.
His remarks came in response to a question about Armenia's European integration ambitions and the future of its relations with Russia, which remains an important economic partner and a major supplier of natural gas.
Pashinyan emphasized that closer relations with Brussels should not be interpreted as an attempt to damage ties with Moscow. "Our goal is not to undermine our relations with Russia. We do not want to create problems for Russia," he said.
Asked whether Russia wanted to create problems for Armenia, Pashinyan replied: "Who knows? I hope, I hope that is not Russia's intention."
Pashinyan acknowledged that Armenia could not simultaneously belong to the European Union and the Russia-led Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU), but suggested that Yerevan still had room to maneuver between the two blocs.
"The reality is that Armenia cannot simultaneously be a member of the Eurasian Economic Union and the European Union, but one thing is certain: there is some space in between," he said.
He added that Armenia's policy was not aimed at creating difficulties in its relations with the EAEU. Instead, one of the government's principal objectives was to develop foreign policy alternatives. "Our main political objective has been and remains to create an alternative for the Republic of Armenia," Pashinyan said.
Armenia adopted a law in March 2025 launching the process of seeking EU membership, although no formal accession negotiations have begun. The country remains a member of the EAEU.
In May 2026, the presidents of Russia, Belarus, Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan called on Armenia to hold a referendum on whether to pursue EU membership or remain in the Eurasian bloc. The four countries subsequently examined the potential economic consequences of suspending the EAEU treaty's application to Armenia.
Relations have also deteriorated over the Russian-led Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO).
On November 11, the organization suspended Armenia's voting rights and its ability to nominate representatives for senior positions because of unpaid membership contributions.
Armenia froze its participation in the CSTO in February 2024, accusing the alliance of failing to fulfill its security obligations following Azerbaijani military operations against Armenia in 2021 and 2022.
Editor's note: The prime minister's remarks were originally delivered in English. The quotations in this article have been translated back into English from the Armenian simultaneous interpretation provided in the official video. They may therefore not correspond word for word to Pashinyan's original statements.
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