The meeting between Putin and Pashinyan at the SCO summit. The main thing

Russian President Vladimir Putin and Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan held a meeting on the sidelines of the SCO summit in Kyrgyzstan. The parties discussed trade and economic cooperation, the situation around Armenia's intention to join the European Union and possible consequences for the Eurasian Economic Union. Putin stressed that Russia would respect any choice of the Armenian people, but urged them to decide on a course faster. All the details are in the Izvestia article.

Economic cooperation and trade turnover

Opening the meeting, Putin noted that Russia is Armenia's main trade and economic partner with a share of about 30%. In the first half of 2026, the trade turnover amounted to $2.5 billion. Mutually beneficial projects are being implemented in the fields of industry, agriculture, mining, peaceful atom, transport and the digital economy. Russian companies are the largest taxpayers in the Armenian budget.

Putin also recalled that over the more than 10 years of Armenia's participation in the EAEU, the country's GDP has almost tripled, from $10.6 billion in 2015 to $29.2 billion by the end of 2025. Exports to the Union countries have increased tenfold, and the union market accounts for about 36% of Armenia's foreign trade turnover.

In response, Pashinyan confirmed his interest in further developing relations with Russia, but noted that peace had been established in the region and the situation had changed, so relations needed to be looked at with a "fresh eye." He also stated that some Russian companies operating in Armenia are not profitable and are not developing, and this requires discussion.

The issue of Armenia's accession to the EU and the position of the parties

Putin stated that Armenia's aspiration to join the EU is a natural and legitimate right of a sovereign state. However, he warned that this creates difficulties for staying in the EAEU and threatens to nullify the republic's advantages in the EurAsEC market and disrupt established trade chains.

The Head of the Russian state stressed that the issues of regulating agricultural products, technical norms and standards do not coincide in the EurAsEC and the EU, and attempts to negotiate compromises with the Europeans had previously led to nothing: "They are quite tough negotiators, quite stubborn, and we have not found an opportunity to resolve almost any issue." Putin called on Pashinyan to make a choice faster so that Russia could adjust its trade and economic policy in connection with Armenia's possible decisions.

In response, Pashinyan stated that Yerevan finds no violations of its obligations to Russia and the EAEU in connection with the start of the process of joining the European Union. He recalled that the law on the beginning of the process was initiated by civil society, and its adoption effectively abolished the idea of a referendum.

"It is very important for us that our country and our people have an alternative, and I think this is a legitimate goal," the Armenian Prime Minister said, stressing that this process is not against Russia or the EAEU, and assured that his government is very careful about relations with Moscow.

Discussion on withdrawal from the EAEU

The key point of the meeting was the discussion on the legal consequences of starting the process of Armenia's accession to the EU. Putin said that the adoption of a law on the beginning of the procedure for joining another economic organization "in fact means a declaration of withdrawal from ours, because staying there is incompatible with both."

Pashinyan objected that Yerevan had not informed its partners about its intention to withdraw from the EAEU, and the union's treaty spelled out an exit procedure that Armenia did not launch.

"When this is created, if an alternative is created, then, of course, we will make a choice," the prime minister said, adding that he considers the need to have an alternative a legitimate goal for any state.

Putin replied that he found the discussion interesting, but did not agree with Pashinyan on the main issue. "Well, do it, and we'll close the subject, that's all. The easiest thing is to turn to people and ask, "What do you want? One way or another?" and that's it," the president said, referring to the possibility of holding a referendum.