Putin Warns Armenia on EU Bid Amid Ukraine Tensions

Russian President Vladimir Putin warned Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan that Yerevan’s bid to join the European Union could disrupt trade with Moscow and complicate its continued membership in the Eurasian Economic Union (EEU), according to The Guardian. The meeting took place on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation summit in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan. Putin emphasized that Armenia's EU aspirations create complications for its participation in the Russia-led economic bloc.

Relations between Russia and Armenia have been strained since 2023 following Azerbaijan’s military offensive in Nagorno-Karabakh. Pashinyan stressed that Armenia’s decision to launch the process of EU accession did not violate its obligations to Russia or the EEU. However, Putin has previously warned that membership in the EU is incompatible with the EEU.

Meanwhile, tensions between Russia and Ukraine continue to escalate. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy urged foreign airlines to avoid Russian airspace due to long-range drone attacks, stating that it was becoming 'completely unsafe,' as reported by Al Jazeera. Putin responded by accusing Zelenskyy of 'state terrorism' and threatened to intensify attacks on Ukraine. NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte described Russia as 'increasingly reckless,' citing missile and drone crossings over Europe's eastern flank.

The conflict has seen intensified strikes, with Russian drones hitting central Kyiv and other regions, causing casualties and damage to infrastructure. Ukrainian forces have also targeted Russian oil refineries and warehouses, aiming to impact the Russian economy and public morale. The situation remains volatile as both sides exchange threats and escalate military actions.

Reuters reported that Putin said there was a chance of reaching an agreement to end the war in Ukraine during an economic forum in Vladivostok. He noted that several countries, including the U.S. and China, were ready to support a peace settlement. 'Ultimately, however, the problem must be resolved by the countries involved in the conflict — Russia and Ukraine,' Putin said.

Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha told reporters in Kyiv that he believed there would now be a 'new dynamic' in peace efforts, with an active phase of political and diplomatic engagement resuming. However, neither Putin nor Sybiha provided specific reasons for this optimism. The Kremlin leader mentioned that Ukrainian attacks on civilian merchant ships and reported threats of attacks on civilian aircraft were acts of state terrorism, complicating the prospects for bilateral peace talks.

Zelenskyy warned airlines and insurance companies about the dangers posed by Ukrainian drones in Russian airspace but assured that only military facilities would be targeted. Ukraine also urged the U.N.'s aviation agency to ask members to ban operations in Russian airspace, as its own airspace has been considered unsafe since Russia's invasion in 2022.