Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov has called on Armenia to quickly decide whether it wants to become a member of the European Union or remain in the Moscow- backed Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU).

According to RIA Novosti, Lavrov said the matter is urgent because Armenia has already passed a law on EU integration. He also noted that the Armenian government says it does not currently plan to leave the EAEU.

“You know, Armenia has already adopted a law on joining the EU; thus, the issue is urgent and must certainly be resolved swiftly,” he said.

The Armenian parliament adopted a bill in 2025 calling on the government to launch the process of EU accession.

“Not because we do not respect the choice of the Armenian people. We want to know that choice. Otherwise, it is impossible to implement the law on Armenia's accession to the European Union and remain in the Eurasian Economic Union, since the norms by which these two associations operate are mutually exclusive," Lavrov emphasized.

Lavrov, at a press conference after the meeting of the CSTO Council of Foreign Ministers, also announced that the member states of the Moscow-backed defense organization have agreed to consider the application of Article 25 of the CSTO Charter.

According to the article, in the event of a member state failing to fulfill its obligations to repay its debt to the organization’s budget within two years, the Council shall adopt a decision to suspend the right of citizens of that state to nominate themselves for quota positions within the organization, as well as to deprive them of the right to vote in the association’s bodies until the debt is fully repaid.

Armenia has not paid CSTO membership dues for the past two years even though it officially remains a full member of the organization.

“Armenia did indeed once again not participate in CSTO events, although it officially remains a full member of the organization, and the state flag of Armenia is present here along with the flags of other states,” Lavrov said.

The Russian foreign minister also expressed his displeasure that Armenia is systematically expanding its cooperation with NATO.

“By not participating in the work of the CSTO, if I remember correctly, having remained a member formally for more than two years, Armenian partners do not come to the events. At the same time, cooperation with NATO member states is being actively increased, military exercises are being conducted, military products are being purchased, and delegations are being exchanged with both NATO and the European Union on military matters. The latter is also now turning into a militarized structure,” Lavrov said.