Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan stated that his country intends to strengthen ties with the European Union without abandoning cooperation with Russia. He made these remarks in an interview with Radio France Internationale (RFI) published on October 12.

Commenting on warnings from Russian politicians that Armenia could become a "second Ukraine," Pashinyan expressed confidence that such a scenario would not come to pass. He emphasized that the Armenian government's task is to address the country's challenges rather than react to external statements.

"My job is not about taking offense or not taking offense. My job is to address the issues facing the Republic of Armenia. And that is what I am doing," he said.

At the same time, Pashinyan noted that relations between Yerevan and Moscow could no longer remain the same given the changes in the region—specifically, the progress of the peace process with Azerbaijan.

"Regardless of anything—regardless of the political leadership—our relations with Russia cannot be the same as they were before. And what has changed? What has changed is that there used to be a conflict with Azerbaijan, whereas now there is peace," he concluded.

Pashinyan identified EU membership as one of the potential future paths for Armenia. The final decision, he said, would depend not only on the stance of Armenian society but also on the EU's own enlargement policy. The Prime Minister noted that the country is not yet ready to join the bloc and needs to implement further reforms. He also deemed holding a referendum on the matter premature at this stage. Pashinyan identified the creation of alternatives as a strategic objective for the government, enabling citizens to eventually choose between membership in the Eurasian Economic Union, accession to the EU, or opting out of both blocs. At the same time, Armenia intends to continue reforms aligned with European standards, regardless of the final decision.

Pashinyan also focused specifically on relations with Baku. He noted that the peace process is already yielding results, pointing to the absence of fatalities or injuries from border skirmishes over the past two years. The Prime Minister acknowledged that unresolved issues remain, including those concerning Armenian captives held in Azerbaijan and missing persons. However, he believes these issues do not negate the progress made in resolving the conflict.