Russia respects Armenia's sovereign right, but Yerevan must decide whether to remain in the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) or join the European Union (EU), as the criteria of these two unions are incompatible, Dmitry Peskov, the press secretary of the Russian president, said during a press briefing.

"We [i.e. Russia] respect all of Armenia's sovereign rights. But at the same time, Armenia is a participant in the EAEU integration process, and a gradual reorientation towards other criteria in various domains will not meet the EAEU standards," the Kremlin spokesperson noted. "This is what we mean when we say that making a choice is extremely important."

"And it is extremely important that none of the EAEU member states come into conflict with the rules, standards, and principles of this integration union that is important to all of us," Peskov added.