During a rare and contentious meeting at the Kremlin on Wednesday, Russian President Vladimir Putin told Armenia’s Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan that Moscow will not allow Armenia’s closer links with the EU. As a not-so-veiled threat, Putin brought up the issue of Russian gas supply to the neighboring country.
Putin informed Pashinyan that Moscow “absolutely calmly” handles the matter of Armenia’s discussions regarding expanding relations with the European Union. Putin made it clear to Pashinyan on camera that joining a customs union with both the European Union and the Eurasian Economic Union is not feasible.
Aiming to facilitate the free flow of commodities, capital, and labor among its members, the Russia-led Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) was established in 2015 and comprises Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, and Kyrgyzstan.
Russia currently sells gas to its neighbor at a “substantially” lower price than the European Union does, according to Putin, who followed up on Moscow’s gas exports to Armenia during the meeting in the Kremlin.
He informed Pashinyan that gas costs in Europe are above 600 dollars per 1,000 cubic meters, while Russia supplies gas to Armenia at 177.5 dollars per 1,000 cubic meters, stating, “the disparity is vast, the difference is substantial. Armenia has expressed its desire for deeper ties with the EU since it made peace with Azerbaijan; Pashinyan has even set an aim to join the 27-member bloc in the future.
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