Putin Again Talks to Armenian, Azerbaijani Leaders

Defense Minister Suren Papikyan reportedly reaffirmed Armenia’s commitment to closer military ties with Russia and spoke of “new challenges and threats” facing the two allied countries as met with his Russian counterpart Sergei Shoigu in Moscow on Friday.

“I can assure you that I will do my best to further develop Russian-Armenian defense cooperation,” the Russian Defense Ministry quoted him as telling Shoigu at the start of their talks.

Papikyan, who was appointed as defense minister in November, began his first visit to Russia in his current capacity on February 24, just hours after the Russian military launched a large-scale attack on Ukraine condemned by the West.

According to the Russian Ministry of Defense, Papikyan said Moscow and Yerevan have to constantly deal with “new challenges and threats.”

“It’s obvious that all of these challenges and threats facing our states can only be overcome by acting jointly,” he said.

A statement issued by the Armenian Defense Minister said the two ministers discussed Russian-Armenian military cooperation as well as “international and regional security issues.” It said they praised Russian efforts to help “stabilize the military-political situation” in the South Caucasus.

“The discussions also touched upon the ongoing reforms and modernization of the Armenian Armed Forces,” the statement added.

Meeting with Papikyan’s predecessor Arshak Karapetian in Moscow last August, Shoigu said Moscow will continue to help Yerevan reform, rearm and modernize the Armenian army.

Papikyan met with Shoigu two days after Russian President Vladimir Putin and his Azerbaijani counterpart Ilham Aliyev signed in the Kremlin a joint declaration on “allied cooperation” between their nations.

The declaration says, among other things, that Russia and Azerbaijan will avoid “any actions directed against each other” and could consider “providing each other with military assistance.”

EU Visas Waived

In further news related to the war, the European Union has waived its visa requirements for Armenian citizens fleeing the intensifying fighting in Ukraine, according to Armenia’s Foreign Ministry.

The ministry announced on February 26 announced that they do not need Schengen visas to enter Ukraine’s EU neighbors — Poland, Slovakia, Hungary and Romania — from the embattled country invaded by Russia. The visa waiver is meant for those Armenians who want to return to Armenia, it said in a statement.

“Other options for evacuating them from Ukraine are also being considered,” the statement said. ”At the same time, we inform that the Republic of Armenia is ready to receive our compatriots, their family members, as well as other refugees.”

The Foreign Ministry also released emergency phone numbers of the Armenian embassy in Kyiv and consulates in the Ukrainian Black Sea city of Odessa and Rostov-on-Don in southern Russia.

The Armenian diplomatic missions in Ukraine continued to operate even after Russia launched the full-scale military attack on February 24. Nor did Yerevan urge Armenian citizens to leave the country.

All flights between Armenia and Ukraine were cancelled immediately after the start of the Russian invasion.

Ukraine is officially home to some 120,000 ethnic Armenians. According to leaders of the Armenian community there, their actual number is much larger and only half of them are Ukrainian citizens.