South Caucasus

The days when Armenia was considered an outpost of Russia are long gone. Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan has sought new relations with both the European Union and the United States. Relations with Brussels have peaked to new heights, with even talk of EU membership. And no lobbying by the powerful Armenian diaspora in the US could achieve that historical moment on 8 August in the White House, when Pashinyan and Azerbaijani president Aliyev, not only set the stage for peace between their two countries, but also opened the way for a new relationship with the United States. But Pashinyan has been able to do all this whilst at the same time keeping the relations with Russia warm. Armenia remains an active member of the Russia-led Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU). In December, Pashinyan participated in Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) meetings in Moscow and St. Petersburg. Johnny Melikyan, Senior Research Fellow at the Orbeli Centre in Yerevan summed up the visit this way: The recent December 2025 visits of Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan to Russia highlighted a practical and interest-based stage in Armenian–Russian relations. Rather than symbolism, the agenda was dominated by concrete issues of economic cooperation, connectivity, trade, and participation in Eurasian integration formats. You can read Johnny Melikyan's comment in full by clicking on the image