Russia will seek to calibrate pressure on Armenia to block its pro-EU course while trying to avoid blowback that pushes Yerevan further away from Moscow, as prolonged instability in the Middle East will limit near-term progress on regional trade corridors backed by Armenia. Russian President Vladimir Putin and Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan met in Moscow on April 1, during which both leaders openly aired their core disagreements in unusually direct terms. In public comments, Putin warned that Armenia could not be a member of both the Russia-led Eurasian Economic Union, or EAEU, and the European Union. He also pointed to the lower gas prices Russia charges Armenia compared with prices in Europe, suggesting that Armenia could lose access to discounted Russian gas if it moves closer to the European Union. Speaking about Armenia's upcoming June 7 parliamentary elections, Putin said Moscow expected pro-Russian groups to be allowed to participate...
