Nagorno-Karabakh President Araryik Harutyunyan has said that the country's defense programs should be combined with those of the Russian peacekeeping troops deployed in the area since the fall of 2020.

Harutyunyan made the remarks on Thursday, April 14 while visited the Defense Ministry of Artsakh and meeting with the Supreme Command Staff of the Defense Army.

The President weighed in on security issues and maintained that ensuring the peaceful and sovereign life of the people of Artsakh remains a top priority. He also listened to the report of Defense Army Commander Kamo Vardanyan on the operative-tactical situation on the line of contact.

Azerbaijan has broken into Nagorno-Karabakh, and the incursion has left three Armenian soldiers dead and at least 14 others injured. On March 24, Azerbaijan stormed into the zone of the responsibility of the Russian peacekeepers stationed in the area and is refusing to completely withdraw its forces from strategic heights.