Within the framework of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization summit in Bishkek recently, Russian and Armenian leaders Vladimir Putin and Nikol Pashinyan have agreed to hold a "special separate bilateral meeting" a little later, during which they will sincerely discuss matters related to Armenia's European Union (EU) membership bid and everything that follows, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said.

During his address at the International Festival of Youth, the Russian foreign policy chief drew attention to the fact that Russia is in no way going to prevent Armenia from choosing its partners and development paths, but it also does not want to sponsor Armenia's preparations for EU membership at the expense of the huge privileges it receives within the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU), and this, according to Lavrov, is "something quite obvious."

“But despite the noted and all other aspects, President Putin and Prime Minister Pashinyan met in Bishkek,” the Russian foreign minister recalled. “They agreed to hold a separate bilateral meeting and talk about all this sincerely.”