Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan said on August 7 that cooperation between members of the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) and third countries should not be viewed as a zero-sum game, as Yerevan seeks to maintain ties with the bloc while developing closer relations with the European Union.

Relations between Armenia and Russia, its long-time security ally and largest trading partner within the EAEU, are currently strained. Tensions have risen since Azerbaijan regained control of Nagorno-Karabakh in 2023, with Yerevan criticising Moscow over what it said was a failure to support Armenia during the conflict. Armenia has also moved to deepen ties with Western partners, including the EU and the United States, while freezing participation in some Russia-led security structures.

Speaking at an expanded session of the Eurasian Intergovernmental Council in Kyrgyzstan, Pashinyan said Armenia remained committed to the EAEU, but called for the bloc to better implement its founding principles.

“For the Republic of Armenia, strengthening cooperation with the member states of the Eurasian Economic Union continues to remain one of the priorities of foreign policy and foreign economic policy,” Pashinyan said, according to a statement from his office.

“At the same time, I would like to emphasise that Armenia consistently advocates adherence to the principles underlying the Eurasian Economic Union.”

Pashinyan said restrictions and administrative measures were preventing the EAEU's single market from functioning fully, reducing business predictability and hindering integration.

“Certain restrictions and administrative measures continue to hinder the full functioning of the single market, reducing the predictability of business conditions and the effectiveness of integration processes,” he said.

He added that Armenia believed measures affecting access to the common market should be adopted only through agreed EAEU procedures.

“Ultimately, such problems cease to be the problems of an individual member state. They become the common problem of the entire union,” Pashinyan said.

The EAEU recently called on Armenia to hold a referendum on whether the country should pursue membership of the European Union. Pashinyan said Armenia had taken note of a May 29 statement by four EAEU leaders supporting such a vote.

Armenia adopted a law in 2025 launching the process of seeking EU membership, but Pashinyan said a referendum at this stage would be premature.

“When Armenia is qualitatively ready for EU membership in the future, this also does not mean that our country will automatically become an EU member,” he said, adding that EU member states and Armenian citizens would also need to approve any future accession.

“Without going through at least most of the listed stages, holding a referendum on the mentioned issue would be meaningless,” Pashinyan said.

He stressed that Armenia's EU engagement did not currently conflict with its EAEU commitments.

“The Republic of Armenia proceeds from the principle that the Eurasian Economic Union should not be viewed as a territory of restrictions,” he said. “We are convinced that the interaction of the EAEU member states with third partners should not be perceived as a zero-sum game.”

Pashinyan also highlighted Armenia's economic role in the bloc, saying the country transferred about $319mn to the EAEU's general budget for import duties in 2025, while receiving about $175mn.

Trade with EAEU members reached about $8.2bn in 2025, including $5.0bn of imports and $3.2bn of Armenian exports, he said.