MOSCOW, June 24. /TASS/. Russia and Armenia are fraternal nations and the integration process binding them contributes to Armenia's economic development, Russian Presidential Spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on Wednesday.

"For many centuries, Russia and Armenia have been neighboring countries, fraternal nations. We are closely interconnected from this point of view and there are many Armenians living in our country and Russians living in Armenia," he stated.

"We are united by a very strong integration process. We are convinced that this integration process, namely the EAEU [the Eurasian Economic Union], annually contributes a significant share to GDP growth in Armenia," Peskov continued.

He added that Moscow is interested in expanding cooperation with Yerevan and will therefore be maintaining it.

"We have a lot of things in common. We, as Russia, are a major investor in Armenia. Therefore, there is a lot to do and the relationship will continue to evolve," Peskov added.

In March 2025, Armenia’s parliament passed a law launching the process of the country's accession to the European Union. Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan stated earlier that Yerevan was aware of the incompatibility of the republic's simultaneous membership in the EU and the EAEU and the country would be aligning its agenda with both associations as long as possible.

At the EAEU summit in Astana on May 29, the presidents of Russia, Belarus, Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan adopted a joint statement stating that they share the stance on the need for Armenia to hold a national referendum on joining the EU or remaining the EAEU member.