Come to a disagreement: Armenia has brought the trade dispute with the Russian Federation to the EAEU platform

The main outcome of the EAEU summit in Kyrgyzstan was the approval of uniform rules for marketplaces. At a meeting of the intergovernmental council, the premiers signed an agreement on electronic commerce, which will provide businesses with clear terms and a wide range of goods for customers. At the same time, the difficult political issue of relations between Russia and Armenia remained on the agenda. Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan said that restrictions on the import of Armenian goods to the Russian Federation threaten all countries of the union, but the other participants avoided this topic. In turn, the head of the Russian delegation, Mikhail Mishustin, stressed that despite global challenges, the total GDP of the association is growing.

What have the partners agreed on?

The EAEU Summit was held in Issyk-Kul. The heads of government of the Union countries gathered in the resort town of Cholpon Ata against the backdrop of the Tien Shan mountain ranges. The meeting of the intergovernmental Council lasted for two days: on August 6, in a narrow format, and on the 7th, in an expanded format. The Russian delegation was headed by Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin..

In the first half of 2026, the key economic indicators of the EAEU, including GDP, increased despite global challenges.

— In January — May, the real gross domestic product increased, as well as industrial production, agriculture, and retail. Mutual trade is increasing," Mikhail Mishustin said.

Following the meeting, the premiers signed a package of documents. The main thing was the agreement on electronic commerce. Mikhail Mishustin explained that it will approve uniform rules for marketplaces in the EAEU. As a result, businesses will receive clear working conditions, and customers will receive a wider range of products.

The parties also allowed brokers and dealers from the EAEU countries to participate in trading on the exchanges of other Union states. According to Daria Saprynskaya, a researcher at the Institute of Economics of the Russian Academy of Sciences and an expert at the Valdai Club, this is a step towards integrating financial markets. In addition, the premiers agreed to mutually recognize documents on academic titles. The expert noted that this measure will increase labor mobility in the EAEU.

The signed agreements will strengthen the union's common market. The only problem remains Armenia's position, which demands that restrictions on the import of its goods to Russia be lifted. There is no political ending to this story yet, Daria Saprynskaya noted. Nevertheless, Nikol Pashinyan returned to personal participation in the EAEU summits, although he had previously ignored them and sent deputies instead. The next meeting will be held in Minsk at the same time as the Innoprom exhibition.

The Armenian issue at the summit

The Armenian Prime Minister used the EAEU summit to publicly criticize internal barriers, pointing to violations of the principle of free trade and restrictions on exporters from his country. Even on the eve of the parliamentary elections in the Transcaucasian republic, Moscow restricted the import of Armenian flowers and alcohol. Rospotrebnadzor and Rosselkhoznadzor explained this by sanitary violations. Nikol Pashinyan himself refused to consider these measures as sanctions at the time.

But, in his opinion, quarantine restrictions interfere with the work of the common market, reduce predictability for businesses and slow down integration. "In the end, such problems cease to be problems of a separate state and become a common problem of the entire association," he said.

It should be noted that the other participants of the meeting did not enter into a discussion on this topic. In 2026, the trade turnover between Yerevan and Moscow fell by two thirds compared to last year, when it amounted to $8 billion, and will continue to decline., said Deputy Prime Minister of the Russian Federation Alexey Overchuk. But relations between the delegations remain good, and contacts remain. Mikhail Mishustin and Nikol Pashinyan had a brief conversation before the meeting.

In July, the Armenian Prime Minister asked the Russian president to resolve the problems with restrictions on the import of Armenian goods. Vladimir Putin recalled the May statement by the EAEU leaders regarding Yerevan's course towards joining the European Union. It calls for a referendum to be held as soon as possible and for a choice to be made between the EU and the EAEU. However, Armenia is not in a hurry with the referendum. Pashinyan insists that the law on the beginning of joining the European Union does not mean automatic membership. Yerevan faces long procedures that will take years, and only after that it is logical to hold a vote.

The crisis in relations with Armenia has become a serious challenge for the EAEU. The republic's political vector and its attempts to get closer to the European Union directly threaten the long-term plans for integration within the EAEU. At the same time, Armenia's rapprochement with the EU is beneficial to Brussels primarily as an instrument of geopolitical pressure on Russia. He may create a new hotbed of tension in the South Caucasus in order to shake the influence of the Russian Federation in the region and within the EAEU.

Solving specific problems with the quality of goods, rather than political disputes, can be a way out of the impasse. Moscow and Yerevan need to negotiate directly, without looking back at Brussels. If the relationship continues to deteriorate, both sides will lose. For Russia This means the loss of an important strategic partner in the South Caucasus and the weakening of positions within the EAEU. Armenia It risks being left without a key sales market for its goods and cheap energy resources. Ultimately, this crisis will have a negative impact on the entire EAEU.