Overview
- Russia's Foreign Ministry summoned Armenia's ambassador, which happened Thursday, to protest that Yerevan gave Volodymyr Zelensky a platform it claimed was used for terrorist threats.
- Russian spokeswoman Maria Zakharova called hosting Zelensky incomprehensible and labeled him a terrorist in comments that reflect the Kremlin's broader bid to delegitimize Ukraine's leadership.
- Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan said Thursday that Armenia is not Russia's ally on the war in Ukraine and confirmed he will skip the May 9 Victory Day parade in Moscow.
- Zelensky visited Yerevan for the May 4 European Political Community summit, held the first Armenia–Ukraine leader meeting in 24 years, and said the talks were good with a possible Kyiv meeting under discussion.
- The flare-up follows Armenia freezing active participation in the Russia-led CSTO in 2024 and passing a law to seek EU membership, after which Vladimir Putin warned in April that EU entry would conflict with Russia's customs bloc.