Armenia’s goal of joining the European Union was criticized in an assessment by Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov dated September 16, 2026. Lavrov said he believed there was a high likelihood that the EU authorities could mislead Armenia if it pursued this course.
Lavrov compared Armenia’s membership expectations with the long-standing applications of Türkiye and Serbia. He interpreted this situation as showing that the expectation of Armenia being admitted to the European Union before countries that have been candidates for years was unrealistic.
The EU orientation clashes with membership in the Eurasian Economic Union
Lavrov’s remarks once again brought to the fore the political and economic tension between Armenia’s rapprochement with the European Union and its continued membership in the Eurasian Economic Union. Lavrov said that if Armenia began incorporating EU standards into its legislation and practices, Russia would not want to finance the country’s preparations for EU membership while it benefited from the economic advantages of membership in the Eurasian Economic Union.
Armenia has adopted legislation to launch the EU membership process. However, this legislation does not mean that the country has joined the European Union or that its membership has been finalized. Full membership requires a formal application, negotiations, alignment with the acquis communautaire and the approval of all member states.
Pashinyan’s message to Putin
During a meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin on September 1, 2026, Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan announced that his country had adopted a law on launching the EU membership process. At the same meeting, Pashinyan said Armenia had not yet formally notified the Eurasian Economic Union of its intention to withdraw.
Putin acknowledged Armenia’s right to turn toward the European Union but said this choice could create problems regarding its membership in the Eurasian Economic Union. As a result, the tension between Yerevan’s efforts to draw closer to European institutions and its existing position in Moscow-centered economic integration remained one of the main issues in relations between the two countries.
Lavrov had also argued on September 3, 2026, that Armenia’s desire for EU membership could diminish in the near term. The latest assessment on September 16 showed that Russia’s criticism of Armenia’s turn toward the European Union was continuing and that the debate was not limited to security.
