French President Emmanuel Macron stated that Armenia is no longer under the protection of Russia.
Speaking at the "Yerevan Dialogue" forum, he noted that the events surrounding Nagorno-Karabakh and the consequences of the 2020 war have changed perceptions of Moscow's role in ensuring the region's security.
"For a long time, many believed that Armenia's fate was only possible under the protection of Russia. The 2020 war (in Nagorno-Karabakh - bb.lv), what you experienced, the tragedy that many families went through and witnessed, all of this showed that this is not the kind of protection that many of us envisioned," Macron said at the "Yerevan Dialogue" forum on Tuesday.
According to the French leader, it has become clear that previous expectations were not met: "Russia has abandoned Armenia."
He also pointed to the political changes within Armenia itself after 2018, noting that the country has chosen a democratic course and can expect development without dependence on "empires." The statements were made against the backdrop of Macron's state visit to Yerevan.
