The Russian Foreign Ministry summoned its ambassador to Armenia, Sergei Kopyrkin, to Moscow for consultations. According to the ministry's statement, this step is a direct response to the Armenian leadership's desire to strengthen ties with the European Union.

The day before, at the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) summit in Astana, representatives of Russia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, and Kyrgyzstan proposed that Armenia, as an EAEU member, hold a referendum to determine its future direction—rapprochement with the EAEU or the EU.

Russian President Vladimir Putin, speaking at the summit, warned that if Yerevan adopts European standards, Russia will be forced to reconsider the format of economic integration with Armenia. He also noted that the country's withdrawal from the EAEU and the resulting rise in energy prices could lead to a loss of 14% of GDP.

Putin also drew parallels between the current situation in Armenia and the onset of the crisis in Ukraine.

Against this backdrop, Russia has already imposed trade restrictions on a number of Armenian goods, including fruits, flowers, alcoholic beverages, and mineral water, citing "violations of technical regulations." Moscow also previously threatened to cut off gas supplies to Armenia at preferential rates if it continued its rapprochement with Europe.

Meanwhile, Reuters, citing sources in Western intelligence agencies, reported on Vladimir Putin's plans to relocate approximately 100,000 Russian Armenians to Armenia to participate in parliamentary elections and vote against the party of incumbent Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan. This operation is expected to cost approximately $50 million. Putin himself is reportedly favoring oligarch Samvel Karapetyan, a pro-Russian candidate from the Strong Armenia party.

Parliamentary elections in Armenia are scheduled for June 7, 2026. According to a public opinion poll commissioned by the American International Republican Institute, Nikol Pashinyan's ruling Civil Contract party is in the lead.