MOSCOW - Russia accused Armenia on Sunday of providing Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy with a platform for anti-Russian remarks, signaling a deepening chill in relations between the traditional allies. During a visit to Yerevan last week, Zelenskiy claimed that Russia fears drones might buzz over Red Square in Moscow during the annual May 9 parade commemorating the Soviet Union's victory over Nazi Germany. The parade proceeded on Saturday in a scaled-back format, missing the usual military hardware display due to the threat of Ukrainian drone attacks.
Diplomatic Protests and Remarks
Moscow had already summoned the Armenian ambassador on Thursday to protest what it described as terrorist threats against Russia made by Zelenskiy in Yerevan. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov stated, according to Russian news agencies, that this is not normal and is not in keeping with the spirit of relations with Yerevan. Peskov emphasized that the main concern for Russia is that Armenia does not adopt an anti-Russian stance, and Moscow awaits an explanation from Yerevan.
EU-Armenia Summit Raises Concerns
Russia also expressed concern on Thursday that Armenia was being drawn into what it calls the European Union's anti-Russian orbit after hosting a meeting of the European Political Community on May 4. More than 40 European leaders, including Zelenskiy, attended that event, which was followed by an EU-Armenia summit. Ties between Russia and Armenia, which hosts various Russian military bases, have grown increasingly strained since Azerbaijan forcibly retook the breakaway region of Nagorno-Karabakh in September 2023, despite the presence of Russian peacekeepers.
In related developments, Ukraine and Russia have traded accusations of violating a US-backed ceasefire. The situation underscores the shifting geopolitical landscape in the region, with Armenia seeking closer ties with the West while managing its historical alliance with Moscow.
