Russia will treat any choice made by the Armenian people with understanding, Russian Deputy Prime Minister Alexey Overchuk said while commenting on reports about possible rapprochement between Yerevan and the West.

At the same time, he stressed that at some stage Armenia will have to choose between the European Union and the Eurasian Economic Union if it decides to move in that direction, Interfax reported.

“Armenia is a very close country for us, an allied country, a member of the EAEU and the CIS. The human ties that unite us are deep, very serious and longstanding. We treat the people of Armenia with great respect. And, of course, as Russian President Vladimir Putin has repeatedly said, we will approach with understanding any choice made by the Armenian people,” he said during the “Russia-Islamic World: KazanForum 2026” international economic forum.

He was responding to a question about whether Armenia was hearing “Russia’s clear signals regarding rapprochement between Yerevan and the West.”

Overchuk continued by saying that Russia has repeatedly stressed that membership in the EAEU and the EU is incompatible, and that Armenia also “understands this very well.”

“Armenian leaders also speak about this, noting that these phenomena are incompatible. At some stage they will have to make such a choice if they decide to go down that path. For our part, we are also trying to convey to our partners the problems that may arise in this regard. Ultimately, it is their choice,” Overchuk said.

He also recalled that a meeting of the Supreme Eurasian Economic Council will take place on May 29.

“Probably this issue will also be discussed there in some format,” Overchuk added.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov earlier stated that Yerevan could lose all privileges it currently enjoys within the framework of the Eurasian Economic Union. Lavrov stressed that relations between Moscow and Yerevan would be discussed at the EAEU summit scheduled for late May in Kazakhstan. At the same time, Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan had earlier said he would be unable to attend the meeting because of the election campaign.