The spokesperson for the Russian Foreign Ministry, Maria Zakharova, stated on Thursday that it is “incomprehensible” that Armenia hosted Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky for this week’s European Political Community summit, and warned Yerevan not to seek closer ties with the EU, according to AFP, quoted by The Moscow Times.
“Russian society, with profound indignation and bewilderment, not only saw, but also remembered that Armenia, which we are accustomed to consider a friendly, fraternal country, served as a platform. For whom? For a terrorist,” stated Maria Zaharova, in a weekly press briefing.
Since the launch of the war against Ukraine, Russian officials have repeatedly labeled President Zelenski and Ukrainian officials as “terrorists”, accusations described by Ukrainian officials as unfounded war propaganda.
“The current illegitimate regime in Kiev has issued threats to strike Moscow during the annual parade on May 9th, a sacred day for our peoples (…). And no one from the current leadership of Armenia has reprimanded Zelenski. So, on whose side of history do you stand?”, she further stated.
The position of the Armenian government
Just recently, the Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan told reporters: “In the period 2022-2023, we have already stated that, regarding the issue of Ukraine, we are not an ally of Russia.”
Subsequently, he clarified that he will not participate in the parade organized in Moscow on Victory Day this Saturday, citing the need to prepare for the parliamentary elections on June 7th.
Maria Zaharova criticized the joint statement adopted by Armenia and the EU on Tuesday, which acknowledges Yerevan’s aspiration to join the community bloc and deepens cooperation on economic and security issues.
“Such a path followed by the Armenian authorities will lead, sooner or later, to the irreversible involvement of Yerevan in the anti-Russian line of Brussels, with all the political and economic consequences that arise from this for Armenia,” warned the spokeswoman for the Russian Foreign Ministry.
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