Putin warns Armenia of energy cuts over Western ties
President Vladimir Putin has warned Armenia that its pursuit of European Union membership could lead to the loss of discounted Russian oil and gas. Moscow is increasing economic pressure on the landlocked nation as it struggles to maintain global influence while the war in Ukraine continues.
Russia threatened to cut cheap energy exports to Armenia if the nation pursues European Union membership, leveraging its role as a primary supplier to prevent a Western pivot. The warning precedes a parliamentary election on Sunday where Western-leaning Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan leads in recent polling. This escalation demonstrates the Kremlin's intensifying effort to retain geopolitical clout while its resources remain concentrated on the conflict in Ukraine.
