"Unseemly": Russia's Security Council comments on Armenia's plans to move closer to the EU

Armenia's shift toward European integration while retaining the economic advantages of EAEU membership looks improper.

This opinion was expressed by Deputy Secretary of Russia's Security Council Alexei Shevtsov in an interview with Sputnik Live.

"Moving into the EU at the expense of the EAEU is, to put it mildly, unseemly," Shevtsov stated, commenting on Yerevan's plans to move closer to the European Union.

According to him, changing the current model of economic cooperation could entail substantial additional costs for Armenia. In particular, the switch to other energy sources alone, according to Shevtsov's estimate, could cost the republic $1 billion annually.

At the same time, Armenia's possible withdrawal from the EAEU, the deputy secretary of Russia's Security Council believes, would not significantly affect the other members of the union.

"Armenia's withdrawal will have practically no effect on the other members of the union. In the current trade turnover of the EAEU countries, the republic accounts for about 1%, which is easily replaced by other areas of cooperation," he stated.

Shevtsov emphasized that the final choice of foreign economic and foreign policy course remains with the citizens of Armenia. According to him, they must determine for themselves how the country should develop further, with whom to trade and build relations.

In March 2025, the parliament of Armenia, which is a member of the EAEU, passed a law on beginning the process of the country's accession to the European Union. In April of the same year, it was approved by the republic's president, Vahagn Khachaturyan. At the EAEU summit held on May 29 in Astana, the leaders of the union's member states issued a joint statement which, in particular, spoke of the need to hold a referendum in Armenia as soon as possible on joining the EU or remaining in the EAEU. Russian President Vladimir Putin stated following the EAEU summit in Astana that Armenia could lose 14% of its GDP if it withdraws from the EAEU. According to statistical data, Armenia would lose almost 40% of its trade turnover in the event of withdrawal from the Eurasian Economic Union.