The Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson, Maria Zakharova, framed the evolving debate over the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) and Armenia as a test of accountability and strategic posture. She indicated that Armenia has faced pressure from Moscow to address concerns linked to CSTO matters, and that Armenia’s public remarks seem aimed at shifting responsibility for recent miscalculations rather than confronting the core issues themselves.
Zakharova’s account suggests that after Moscow did not receive a formal reply to its demands, Yerevan sought other avenues to express its position. She emphasized that Armenia has not left the CSTO; instead, its actions are described as a recalibration within the alliance. The diplomat implied that Armenia was trying to deflect blame and pinpoint those responsible for the misjudgments that contributed to the current crisis within the wider security framework.
On November 14, Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan told Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko that he would not attend the CSTO summit. He stressed that Armenia hoped CSTO partners would understand the reasoning behind this choice and that the country remained actively engaged in regional security despite not participating in this particular gathering.
In response, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov expressed Moscow’s regret about Armenia’s decision to abstain from the November 23 CSTO summit. This stance underscored Russia’s view that Armenia remains a CSTO member and that the alliance’s meetings are important forums for regional dialogue, even as disagreements surface and need careful mediation.
Later remarks from the Armenian parliament indicated that the speaker would skip the December CSTO meeting. He argued that the CSTO had not fulfilled all its obligations toward Armenia but stressed that bilateral and regional ties with the organization had not been severed. The speaker also noted that Yerevan had not taken a formal step to withdraw from the CSTO, signaling a cautious approach to alliance commitments amid mounting diplomatic pressure.
Earlier conversations between the Russian president and Armenian leadership were held without a planned round of talks ahead of the CSTO summit, suggesting that high-level coordination remains intricate. The timing points to a broader strategic calculation within both sides as they weigh regional security priorities and the evolution of the alliance within the challenging security landscape of the Caucasus and neighboring regions. The situation continues to unfold as official spokespeople describe the steps as part of a long-term balance between alliance duties and national interests, with no immediate moves toward a formal exit from the CSTO.