Russia says will keep helping Armenia build up army

PanARMENIAN.Net - Russia will continue to assist Armenia in ensuring the protection of its borders and strengthening the country's defense capability, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said in opening remarks during talks with his Armenian counterpart Ararat Mirzoyan, TASS reports.

"We as Armenia's key ally will continue to help you strengthen your defense capability and ensure the protection of the border," he said.

The Russia foreign policy chief noted that the parties will also touch upon the prospects for cooperation within the CIS, the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) and the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO).

"Now Armenia chairs the CSTO, so it is all the more important for us to compare our actions with the plans that Armenia presented to the members of this organization," Lavrov stressed.

Officials from both sides have said in the past that Russia supports Armenia in the modernization of its Armed Forces. Russian Ambassador to Yerevan Sergei Kopyrkin told reporters in 2021 about"very intensive contacts" between the Defense Ministries of the two countries.