Russia Threatens to Cancel Trade Agreements with Armenia Over EU Rapprochement

Russia has threatened to terminate trade agreements with Armenia in response to the former Soviet republic's growing ties with the European Union. The warning represents an escalation in Moscow's pressure campaign against Armenia, which has been gradually distancing itself from Russian influence following conflicts in the disputed Nagorno-Karabakh region. An Armenian minister stated that the country does not wish to sever its relationship with Russia, despite the ongoing diplomatic tensions. Armenia, a landlocked nation in the South Caucasus, has historically maintained close ties with Moscow through various agreements including military cooperation and economic partnerships, but has increasingly sought closer relations with Western institutions in recent years. The dispute highlights Russia's broader efforts to maintain influence over former Soviet republics amid geopolitical shifts in the region. Armenia's pivot toward the EU comes as the country reassesses its security arrangements following Russia's failure to provide adequate support during recent conflicts with Azerbaijan over Nagorno-Karabakh.