Nikol Pashinyan’s telephone conversation with Vladimir Putin on July 27 did not solve the main problem, for which the Armenian prime minister actually turned to the Russian president. Restrictions on the supply of Armenian products to Russia’s sanctions remain in force, specific dates for their cancellation have not been named, and manufacturers continue to incur losses. Two days after the conversation, Pashinyan tried to present it as a political dialogue that had taken place, but his own statements confirmed that there was no practical result on the export issue yet.

On July 29, after a meeting of the Civil Contract board, Pashinyan said that the conversation with Putin “turned out” because the leaders talked for a long time and allegedly came to a common understanding on a number of issues. According to him, Russia recognizes Armenia’s “legitimate right” to form foreign policy and economic alternatives. Pashinyan also said that he told Putin: Armenia has announced a move to the side The EU will continue to follow this path, especially since voters supported the relevant program of the ruling party.

However, the duration of the conversation by itself does not mean that agreements have been reached. The official communications of the parties do not contain a decision to lift restrictions, nor an agreed mechanism for the return of Armenian goods to the Russian market, nor a specific time frame for resolving the crisis.

According to the Armenian government, Pashinyan told Putin that restrictions on the export of goods of Armenian origin contradict the Armenian-Russian legal framework and regulations of the EAEU, and then asked to take measures to solve the problem. The Kremlin, for its part, said that the conversation took place precisely on the initiative of the Armenian side. In other words, it was Pashinyan who called Putin with a request to intervene in the situation, and not the Russian president who called the Armenian prime minister with a proposal to lift restrictions.

Instead of promising to restore the previous trade regime, Putin again emphasized the need to hold a referendum on joining the EU or staying in the EAEU in Armenia as soon as possible. It is this difference in official accents that best shows the real outcome of the conversation: Yerevan was talking about goods and losses, Moscow was talking about Armenia’s geopolitical choice.

The story of Putin’s lack of congratulations on the results of the parliamentary elections is also indicative. To a direct question from journalists, Pashinyan replied: “If he didn’t want to, he didn’t congratulate,” and then added: “He didn’t congratulate, but then who was he talking to?” Thus, the prime minister tried to present the very fact of the telephone conversation as an indirect recognition of his status and election results. But such an argument looks strained. Moreover, according to the Kremlin’s official statement, the initiator of the call was not Putin, but the Armenian side. Moreover, Pashinyan said that the parties agreed to meet in the future, but there is also no specific date for the meeting yet.

More details: https://www.eadaily.com/en/news/2026/07/30/the-beginning-of-the-end-of-the-eaeu-or-the-end-of-illusions-armenias-choice-after-putins-conversation-with-pashinyan