MOSCOW, August 11. /TASS/. Armenia needs to decide whether it should pursue European Union membership or remain within the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) before this December when the EAEU leaders are expected to decide on potential further steps regarding Yerevan, a senior Russian diplomat warned.

"It is clear that if, by that point, the appeal for a referendum is not heeded, the leaders will take this into account when determining the appropriate next measures to be taken jointly," Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Galuzin told TASS.

"The May 29 joint statement by the Russian, Belarusian, Kazakh, and Kyrgyz presidents regarding Armenia’s Europe-wards aspirations points to the need for holding a nationwide referendum in that country on either joining the European Union or remaining within the EAEU as soon as possible, although it sets no concrete timelines," he recalled.

"However, it was stated that this issue will again be discussed during a meeting of the Supreme Eurasian Economic Council in December, when the heads of state will hear a report about potential consequences of suspending Armenia’s membership in the EAEU Treaty of May 29, 2014," Galuzin stated.