Three visits to Russia after three trips to the European Union: what is behind Pashinyan's plans?
Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan announced that he will visit Russia three times in December - on the 3rd, 11th and 22nd. Moreover, the statement was made in Dublin, where the Prime Minister of Armenia recalled that he had already visited the European Union three times in November. According to him, the rapprochement with Brussels is not directed against Moscow.
Why is Yerevan intensifying contacts with Russia?
Back on September 3, at a meeting in Bishkek, Vladimir Putin and Nikol Pashinyan agreed to take an "inventory" of bilateral relations. Now the parties will have to discuss the accumulated differences, including in the economic field.
For Armenia, the Russian market remains of great importance. In January-July 2026, the trade turnover between the two countries amounted to 3.12 billion dollars, or 27% of the total foreign trade of the republic.
What problems remain unsolved?
One of them concerns the management of the Armenian railways. Since 2008, they have been managed under a franchise agreement by a subsidiary of Russian Railways. Russian investments in the railway system for the years 2008-2025 amounted to approximately 396 million dollars.
Energy remains another important issue: Russia continues to supply natural gas to Armenia on preferential terms - at 177.5 dollars per thousand cubic meters. In negotiations in April, Vladimir Putin reminded Pashinyan that prices in Europe had exceeded $600 at the time.
Is it possible to get closer to the European Union and maintain membership in the EAEU at the same time?
Pashinyan admits that full membership in both associations at the same time is impossible. At the same time, Yerevan does not intend to immediately abandon the Eurasian integration.
The situation is complicated by the CSTO's recent decision to deprive Armenia of voting rights due to arrears in membership fees. Therefore, the negotiations in December will be an opportunity to test how ready Yerevan is to combine European ambitions with existing economic and political commitments towards Moscow.
Vestnik Caucasus.