Russian peacekeepers deployed to the disputed region of Nagorno-Karabakh in the South Caucasus had “failed in their mission”, Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan said in an interview with Politico published on Thursday.
Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan said he believed that Moscow could no longer exert influence on Azerbaijan, adding that Russia’s invasion of Ukraine meant that Armenia could not continue to rely on Moscow as the guarantor of its security.
Last week, the Russian Foreign Ministry summoned the Armenian ambassador to issue “a strong note of protest over Yerevan’s hostile actions”, following its decision to send humanitarian aid to Ukraine for the first time, as well as the announcement that Armenian troops would participate in joint exercises with the US military.
It's not entirely without risk though. The Russians are occupied right now, but after this war's done it's not impossible that they'll turn their full attention on Armenia and increase the interfering or outright invade.
The interesting thing, is that thanks to Ukraine countries now know that the Russian military isn't all that, and western countries know they can get away with supplying weapons to countries fighting Russia without it being a significant escalation.
Taken together with the ICC opening from yesterday, it seems like a pretty profound realignment.
Usually this would get you a swift visit from the VDV and other assorted friends, but I guess they’ve seen the limits of Russian power and are willing to take their chances.