Russia's Trade War on Armenia: Pashinyan Calls Putin Over Sanctions
Finally, Pashinyan and Putin had a phone call. The Russian side made it clear that this phone call was initiated by the Armenian side about trade restrictions on Armenian exports.
On July 26, 2026, Pashinyan initiated a call with Putin to discuss trade restrictions that Russia has imposed on Armenian exports. The timing is significant: Armenia was hit with fresh restrictions the same day, including a ban on dairy product exports to Russia. This economic squeeze is not accidental but a deliberate lever of geopolitical coercion.
Putin used the call to reiterate his pressure on Pashinyan regarding Armenia’s choice between EU integration and Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) membership. The underlying message is clear: as Armenia drifts toward European institutions, Russia is tightening the economic screws. Hovik notes that while Russia may have effectively accepted Pashinyan as Armenia’s de facto leader for pragmatic reasons, it is not abandoning sanctions or restrictions, signaling that Moscow expects more concessions. Some analysts speculate Russia may be demanding involvement in TRIPP (the Trump Route for International Peace and Prosperity) or other strategic alignments as the price for easing pressure.
Simultaneously, Armenia announced a comprehensive energy partnership with Iran to increase natural gas consumption, a desperate bid to prepare for cold winters without Russian supplies. However, Iranian gas will not arrive at Russian prices, meaning ordinary Armenians face both political instability and economic hardship. The broader picture shows Armenia caught between empires: Europe demands constitutional changes and deeper integration, while Russia uses trade embargoes to enforce loyalty to the EAEU. Pashinyan’s government, lacking genuine strategic agency, is simply trying to survive the pressures from all sides.
Transcript
Hovik Manucharyan: Finally, Pashinyan and Putin had a phone call. The Russian side made it clear that this phone call was initiated by the Armenian side about trade restrictions on Armenian exports. And around the same time, I believe just yesterday or today, Armenia was subjected to increased restrictions by Russia. No dairy products now can be exported from Armenia to Russia. So in this phone call, apparently Pashinyan and Putin had a discussion about the trajectory of relations and it appears that Putin continued his rhetoric about Armenia holding a referendum on EU integration or Eurasian integration or EAEU integration as a choice that Armenian citizens have to make. I don't know what to make of it. I think that it sort of proves my point that Russia will eventually Accept Pashinyan as the de facto leader of Armenia to deal with. I don't think it will mean that Russia will be happy with it, but from the looks of the rhetoric,