The Past daily of the Republic of Armenia (RA) writes as follows, in particular: Russia has addressed another harsh message to the RA authorities during a forum [i.e. the International Economic Forum] held recently in Saint Petersburg.

According to [Russian] Deputy Prime Minister Alexey Overchuk’s assessments, Armenia and Russia may lose up to $6 billion already by the end of this year, as Armenia’s rapprochement with the European Union [(EU)] directly hits [negatively] trade in goods in the Russian direction. Moreover, Overchuk insinuated in plain text that Armenia’s deepening European integration may also lead to the closure of Armenian airspace for Russian aircraft.

The day before, Russia MFA press secretary Maria Zakharova also had stressed that in the event of leaving the EAEU [i.e. the Eurasian Economic Union], Armenia will lose a number of fundamental advantages: free movement of goods and services, customs privileges, competitiveness, labor and technical regulations, sanitary and phytosanitary standards. In fact, such statements simply cannot be accidental. [Armenian PM] Nikol Pashinyan himself had insinuated a few days ago that sooner or later Armenia will have to make a choice between the EAEU and the EU.

And despite such clear warnings, neither the [Armenian] authorities nor the staff satellite-pro-Westerners have presented to this day based on what economic calculations they are going to lead Armenia to the European Union. What does all this mean? In fact, Russia is already hardening its position [on Armenia] not only in the political, but also in the economic and practical fields. Most likely, the deeper Armenia's European aspirations [become], it will have that much severe and painful consequences for Armenia.