Simonyan: Russia’s involvement in TRIPP would be absurd

PanARMENIAN.Net - Armenian National Assembly Speaker Alen Simonyan dismissed the idea of Russia’s participation in the TRIPP initiative, calling it “a bit absurd.”

He said that including Russia in the U.S.-Armenia program would be tantamount to ensuring the project fails, Factor.am reported.

“TRIPP is an Armenian-American initiative. If we’re talking about creating a separate route or project, that’s one thing—but within TRIPP, I find the idea a bit absurd. It would mean doing everything possible to make sure TRIPP doesn’t work,” Simonyan stated.

He added that Russia’s interest is not surprising but reflects its usual effort to maintain influence in neighboring countries, primarily now through economic means, as its military leverage has declined.

Simonyan also responded to Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova’s comment that Moscow is open to joining TRIPP, citing “Russia’s unique experience in railway infrastructure.”

“That’s just how a large state operates. There’s nothing new or unusual. Everyone wants to influence neighboring countries, and when military means become ineffective, they turn to economic tools,” Simonyan noted.

Discussing the regional future, Simonyan expressed confidence that the chapter of war between Armenia and Azerbaijan is closed.

“I believe that chapter is closed. The war between Armenia and Azerbaijan is over. Unless something drastic happens, I find it extremely unlikely we’ll reopen it. I believe it’s closed in people’s minds as well. I hope Azerbaijani leaders can say the same,” he said.

He also downplayed the possibility of new provocations before or after elections.

“What we’ve declared that the Karabakh chapter is closed and a new era of peace has begun has clearly been accepted by the public, judging by the reactions in the opposition, the political arena, and among the people. That will be confirmed again in the 2026 elections,” Simonyan concluded.

Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan and U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio signed a joint document in Washington under the Trump Route for International Peace and Prosperity (TRIPP) framework. The agreement outlines TRIPP’s implementation procedures but does not create legal obligations for either country.