ArmInfo. Russia and Armenia lost $5.1 billion in mutual trade last year due to talk of Yerevan's rapprochement with the European Union (EU). Russian Deputy Prime Minister Alexei Overchuk stated this in an interview with TASS.
"In September 2024, we drew the attention of our Armenian colleagues to the fact that their talk of aspirations to join the EU was negatively impacting Russian entrepreneurs' attitudes toward trade with Armenia. These talks of rapprochement with the EU alone cost Russian-Armenian relations a real $5.1 billion," he noted. To support his claims, the deputy prime minister cited specific figures, pointing out that by the end of 2024, mutual trade between Russia and Armenia would amount to $11.5 billion, while last year, according to preliminary data, it had fallen to approximately $6.4 billion.
"How do you think Russian entrepreneurs will react to the presence of Armenian businesses in Russia if Russian businesses are forced out of Armenia? And what will happen next? I think neither Armenia nor Russia wants to know the answer to this question, although it is obvious," Overchuk said.
He also emphasized that Moscow sees Armenia being prepared to join the EU, which has become a hostile bloc for Russia, emphasizing that the realization of this scenario would lead to serious consequences. "What we're seeing with the twists and turns of the railway concession [between Russia and Armenia's railways] fits into the political logic of the Armenian leadership's proclaimed rapprochement with the European Union, which is experiencing economic decline and is transforming into a military-political bloc hostile to Russia," Overchuk stated. He emphasized that "whether Armenians want to become part of a bloc hostile to Russia is a matter for the Armenians themselves."
"It's obvious to us that they're being prepared for this, just as the long-term, grave consequences of such a development are obvious," the Russian Deputy Prime Minister pointed out.
At the same time, Overchuk added that Western countries are "professionally tempting" Yerevan, and so far, it must be acknowledged that it's working. "Unlike Westerners who are calling on Armenia to curtail its relations with Russia, we are not hindering the development of Armenia's trade and economic ties with other countries, including the US and the EU. There's nothing wrong with them wanting to expand their export markets. Whether they succeed or not, they will be able to see for themselves," he noted.
"People always dream of a better life, but we're currently witnessing how they're being professionally tempted. We have to admit that it's working for now," Overchuk emphasized. According to him, otherwise, "decisions that may seem spectacular, bring short-term benefits, but are out of touch with reality and will cause obvious material damage to this country in the long term wouldn't be made." "Given our close relationship with the people of Armenia, we cannot help but speak about this openly," the Deputy Prime Minister added.
It should be noted that on January 9, 2025, the Armenian government approved a draft law on the start of the EU accession process, proposed by the "Eurakve" civic initiative. The draft was sent to the Armenian parliament for approval. On March 26, the parliament adopted it in its final reading and sent it to the president for signature. The document was signed on April 4 of that year. Moscow stated that Russia had conveyed to Armenia that simultaneous membership in the Eurasian Economic Union and the European Union was impossible.
