Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said he could not imagine how Armenia could become a member of the European Union sooner than countries that have already held candidate status for many years. According to him, this raises questions about Armenia’s prospects of joining the EU.
Lavrov also said that Russia could not oppose the Armenian people’s choice in favor of European integration if that choice truly reflects the will of the people. At the same time, he noted that it must first be understood whether such a choice exists in Armenia.
According to the Russian foreign minister, EU authorities could most likely deceive Armenia over European integration. He linked his assessment to the fact that, in his presentation, Armenia’s membership prospects are unclear, given the comparison with other countries that are candidates for EU membership.
At the heart of Lavrov’s statement is not only the question of the timeframe for Armenia’s possible EU accession, but also how he presents the legitimacy of the process. In his formulation, the decisive condition for Russia is the Armenian people’s genuine choice, but he himself questions whether such a choice exists.
This approach shows that European integration remains a subject of political discussion in the context of relations between Moscow and Yerevan. At the same time, Lavrov’s assessment does not mean that the final outcome of Armenia’s possible accession has already been determined; it is a political position presented by him. Therefore, the statement should be read as an expression of Russia’s official position, rather than as an assessment made on behalf of the EU or Armenia.
