MOSCOW, May 10 – Moscow has condemned Armenia for allowing Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to deliver what Russia calls anti-Russian statements during his recent visit, signaling deepening tensions between the traditionally allied nations.
During his trip to Yerevan last week, Zelenskyy suggested that Russia was concerned about potential drone strikes over Red Square in Moscow during the May 9 Victory Day celebration marking the Soviet defeat of Nazi Germany in World War Two.
The military parade proceeded on Saturday as scheduled but in a reduced format, omitting the typical display of military equipment due to concerns about possible Ukrainian drone strikes.
Russian officials had already called in Armenia’s ambassador on Thursday to object to what they characterized as terrorist threats against Russia delivered by Zelenskyy while in Yerevan.
Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov expressed displeasure with the situation, stating: “This is not normal, it is not in keeping with the spirit of our relations with Yerevan.”
“The main thing for us is that Armenia does not adopt an anti-Russian stance,” Peskov added, noting that Russia expects clarification from Yerevan regarding the matter.
On Thursday, Russian officials also voiced concerns about Armenia being pulled into what they termed the European Union’s anti-Russian sphere of influence following Armenia’s hosting of a European Political Community gathering on May 4.
Over 40 European leaders, including Zelenskyy, participated in that meeting, which was followed by an EU-Armenia summit.
Relations between Russia and Armenia, which houses several Russian military installations, have become increasingly strained since Azerbaijan forcibly reclaimed its separatist Nagorno-Karabakh region in September 2023, despite Russian peacekeepers being stationed there.
