During US Vice President J.D. Vance's visit to Armenia, the two countries signed a cooperation agreement on civil nuclear energy. According to American experts, this step will help Armenia reduce its dependence on Russian technology in the sector.

In response to this move, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Galuzin stated that there are no real alternatives to Russian nuclear projects for Armenia.

"There are no real alternatives to Russian proposals for the construction of a new nuclear power plant unit in Armenia. Moscow intends to continue to act as the guarantor of Armenia's energy security," Galuzin said.

He also emphasized that specialists from both countries hail from the same "Soviet school."

The agreement between the US and Armenia, concluded during Vance's visit, provides for potential American investments of up to $9 billion and opens access for US companies to export technologies, fuel, and services to the Armenian market. In addition, the document allows the United States to participate in promising projects, including a possible competition to replace the aging Armenian Nuclear Power Plant, which provides about 40% of the country's electricity, with modern small modular reactors.