Russian president tells Pashinyan to hold referendum on European alignment or risk conflict.
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Vladimir Putin warned Armenia on May 10 against deepening ties with the European Union, reportedly telling Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan to hold a referendum on the choice between the bloc and Russia.
Putin cited Ukraine as a cautionary example, according to briefing remarks. Armenia has accelerated EU integration in recent years amid deteriorating relations with Moscow following Azerbaijan's 2020 war victory.
The warning reflects Russia's shrinking influence in the South Caucasus as Armenia pivots westward. Moscow maintains a military base in Armenia but has faced criticism over its failure to intervene in the conflict. EU membership discussions began last year as Yerevan sought security guarantees beyond Moscow's orbit.
Putin warned Armenia against EU integration, threatening a Ukraine-like conflict if it proceeds without a public referendum. Armenia has been shifting westward since Russia failed to support it during Azerbaijan's 2020 war, prompting EU membership talks that Moscow now seeks to block.
If Armenia chooses EU alignment over Russian influence, it could reshape security dynamics in the South Caucasus and affect regional stability, investment flows, and energy routes that impact European energy security and Middle Eastern geopolitics.