Deputy Foreign Minister of Russia Mikhail Galuzin said in an interview with RIA Novosti that Armenia will not be able to be a member of the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) and the European Union at the same time. According to him, the final decision rests with Yerevan, which will have to independently determine where it would be more advantageous for the country to be. The diplomat's speech came amid growing discussions about Armenia's foreign policy, which in recent years has been balancing between integration with the West and maintaining close ties with Russia.

Galuzin emphasized the fundamental differences between the two associations. The EAEU, as the Deputy Foreign Minister noted, is a union of equal states where decisions are made on the basis of consensus and mutual benefit. In contrast, the European Union, in his opinion, functions as a rigid structure where "stick discipline" dominates, subordinated to an anti-Russian agenda. He described Brussels officials as "bureaucrats out of touch with reality" who impose their narratives on all EU members, depriving them of independence. Russia, according to Galuzin, expects that Armenian society will be provided with full information about the benefits of being in the EAEU and the risks associated with breaking this partnership, so that citizens can form an objective opinion.

The Russian diplomat’s statement reflects Moscow’s concerns about Armenia’s possible drift towards the West. The EAEU, created in 2015 and comprising Russia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Armenia, provides Yerevan with access to a common market of more than 180 million people and duty-free trade. In 2024, according to the Eurasian Economic Commission, Armenia’s trade turnover with its EAEU partners grew by 12%, amounting to about $3,5 billion, which is a significant share of the country’s foreign trade. However, in recent years, Yerevan has stepped up its contacts with the EU, signing the Comprehensive and Enhanced Partnership Agreement in 2017, and in March 2025, Reuters reported, Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan said he was ready to consider prospects for rapprochement with the European Union.

Meanwhile, the EU is increasing its influence: in April 2025, the European Commission allocated a €270 million grant to Armenia for infrastructure development and reforms, the largest financial aid to the country from Brussels. However, experts note that joining the EU will require Armenia to sever economic ties with the EAEU, which could lead to the loss of the Russian market and increased dependence on Western investment, which is not always guaranteed in the context of European budget constraints.

The Armenian leadership has not yet given a clear answer to the question of priorities. In an interview with France24 in March, Pashinyan emphasized that the country seeks to diversify its relations, maintaining a balance between the East and the West. However, reality, as Galuzin noted, forces Yerevan to make a choice, since joint participation in two unions with different rules and goals is impossible. For Armenia, this decision is complicated not only by economic but also by political factors: dependence on Russia in the security sphere, including the presence of a military base in Gyumri, remains an important element of stability in the region, especially against the backdrop of tense relations with Azerbaijan.