Yerevan is hosting two major summits with the participation of more than 30 European leaders and representatives of the European Union. Visits of this level appear significant for a country that has long been considered Moscow's closest ally in the South Caucasus.
The symbolism of this event for a country with a population of less than three million people is hard to overestimate: Armenia is a member of the Eurasian Economic Union, created by Russian President Putin, and a Russian military base is located on Armenian territory, writes BBC.
On Monday, more than 30 European leaders and the Prime Minister of Canada will participate in the summit of the European Political Community (EPC), which will take place in Yerevan.
On Tuesday, the first-ever EU-Armenia bilateral summit will be held, featuring European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and European Council President António Costa.
Armenia is largely dependent on Russia for energy resources. It purchases Russian gas at preferential prices — this was specifically mentioned by Putin during Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan's visit to Moscow on April 1.
He noted that Russia sells gas to Armenia at a price of $177.5 per 1,000 cubic meters, while in Europe it costs $600.
The Armenia-EU summit will focus on strengthening bilateral relations, as well as issues related to the economy, energy, transport, and digital technologies. Leaders will also discuss progress in ensuring peace, security, and transport infrastructure in the South Caucasus, as well as current global challenges.
