Russia has struggled to supply weapons to Armenia due to the war in Ukraine, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said Wednesday, while also acknowledging growing tensions between Moscow and Yerevan.Armenia has traditionally relied on Russia for military support amid its decades-long standoff with neighboring Azerbaijan.
But in recent years, Yerevan has increasingly turned to France and India for arms, citing Moscows failure to deliver equipment it had already paid for.Speaking at a press conference in Yerevan alongside Armenian Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan, Lavrov admitted that some weapons contracts had been delayed or reassigned, blaming what he called Russias broader confrontation with the West.We are currently in a situation where, as has happened throughout history, we are forced to fight all of Europe, Lavrov said, accusing European countries of backing Ukraine under Nazi slogans.Our Armenian friends understand that in such conditions we cannot fulfill all our obligations on time, he added.Lavrov also addressed Armenias deepening military ties with other countries, including France.
While saying Moscow would not oppose Yerevan purchasing weapons from third parties, he warned that buying arms from countries openly hostile to Russia raised questions about Armenias strategic direction.When an ally turns to a country like France, which leads the hostile camp, and whose president and ministers speak openly with hatred toward Russia, it does raise questions, he said.His remarks come amid a steady deterioration in Russian-Armenian relations.
Armenia has effectively frozen its participation in the Moscow-led Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) and has publicly accused Russian peacekeepers of failing to protect ethnic Armenians during Azerbaijans 2023 takeover of Nagorno-Karabakh.