Russia publicly accused Armenia on Sunday of offering Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy "a platform for anti-Russian remarks," highlighting a further deterioration in relations between Moscow and Yerevan. The allegations followed a visit by Zelenskiy to Yerevan last week, during which he warned that Russia feared "drones may buzz over Red Square" in Moscow during the annual May 9 parade commemorating the Soviet Union's victory over Nazi Germany in World War Two.
The Kremlin's statement arrived as Moscow moved to formalize its displeasure. Authorities summoned the Armenian ambassador on Thursday to lodge a protest over what Russian officials described as "terrorist threats against Russia" attributed to Zelenskiy while he was in Yerevan.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov reiterated Moscow's concerns, saying, "This is not normal, it is not in keeping with the spirit of our relations with Yerevan." Peskov added, "The main thing for us is that Armenia does not adopt an anti-Russian stance," and said Russia was awaiting further explanation from Yerevan on the matter.
The May 9 parade in Moscow proceeded on Saturday in a reduced format. Organizers did not include the usual displays of military hardware, citing the threat of Ukrainian drone attacks as the reason the event was scaled back.
Moscow also voiced unease on Thursday about Armenia appearing to be drawn into what Russia characterized as the European Union's "anti-Russian orbit" after Yerevan hosted a meeting of the European Political Community on May 4. That gathering drew more than 40 European leaders, including President Zelenskiy, and was followed by an EU-Armenia summit.
The dispute between Moscow and Yerevan unfolds against a backdrop of strained ties since Azerbaijan forcibly retook Nagorno-Karabakh in September 2023, despite the presence there at the time of Russian peacekeepers. Armenia hosts a number of Russian military bases, a fact that underscores the significance of the current diplomatic friction.
Summary
The Kremlin has accused Armenia of facilitating "anti-Russian" remarks by President Zelenskiy during his recent visit to Yerevan. Moscow has summoned Armenia's ambassador and sought explanations, while also expressing concern that Armenia is moving closer to the EU's sphere. The developments follow the European Political Community meeting hosted in Yerevan and come amid longer-running tensions since the September 2023 changes in Nagorno-Karabakh.