Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said that Armenia’s prospective membership in the European Union is incompatible with its status in the Eurasian Economic Union. She emphasized that EAEU membership has brought tangible benefits to Yerevan.

On March 26, Armenia’s National Assembly approved the law initiating the process toward EU membership in its second and final reading. The government had first endorsed the start of EU accession negotiations on January 9, based on a proposal from the “EurActive” civil initiative. However, the EU has not yet extended an official invitation, and some opposition groups have called the document legally absurd. The law has been signed by the President of Armenia.

Russian Deputy Prime Minister Alexey Overchuk also remarked that Armenia cannot “sit on two chairs” and will be forced to choose between the EAEU and the EU.