Armenia’s backers accuse Russia of mounting pressure and threatening energy supplies at Dublin meeting

Leaders and representatives of Estonia, France, Lithuania, the United Kingdom and the EU’s High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy met Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan on 12 November 2026 on the margins of the European Political Community summit in Dublin, and issued a statement accusing Russia of mounting direct political and economic pressure on Yerevan. The statement was published by the UK Prime Minister’s Office at 10 Downing Street.

According to the text, the group was joined by Germany, Norway, Poland, the President of the European Council and the President of the European Commission. It is described as the “Core Group of Support to Armenia”.

Support for sovereignty and territorial integrity

The participants said they “reiterate” their support for the sovereignty, territorial integrity, stability, independence and resilience of the Republic of Armenia. They recalled that parliamentary elections were held in Armenia five months earlier, which, in their words, allowed the Armenian people to make a clear choice in favour of peace, democracy and closer ties with Europe, “despite multi-faceted interference from Russia”.

Allegations of Russian pressure

The statement says that since the elections Russia’s direct political and economic pressure on Armenia “has only been increasing”. It claims that Moscow has imposed unprecedented restrictions on Armenian exports and is now threatening to use energy supplies as a means of intimidation. These are the assessments of the signatories; the statement does not include a Russian response, and this report has not found one in the sources read.

As a response, the participants said they are taking action to enable Armenia to protect its sovereignty and choose its own destiny freely.

Trade, energy and connectivity

The group said it will keep helping Armenia to diversify its economic partnerships, in particular in trade and energy. It pointed to the European Union’s decision to suspend duties on 80% of Armenian exports to the EU. The leaders also said they will continue to support Armenia’s efforts to build a resilient democracy and a prosperous economy that is fully integrated into regional connectivity networks and international trade flows.

Peace process with Azerbaijan and normalisation with Turkey

On the region, the statement expresses support for the peace process between Armenia and Azerbaijan and for the “significant progress” made since the Washington meeting in August 2025. It also backs the normalisation process between Armenia and Turkey, and encourages further efforts for the benefit of the peoples of Armenia and Azerbaijan and of the wider region.

Background

Armenia’s relations with Russia were already in the news this week: see our report CSTO summit in Moscow without Armenia – Pashinyan in Paris and Russia’s proposal on Yerevan’s voting right. Our explainer on the Dublin gathering is at European Political Community meets in Dublin: what the ninth EPC summit is and who attends.

The full statement is available on the UK government website.