Maria Zakharova on the probability of withdrawing Russian troops from Armenia

The official representative of the Russian Foreign Ministry, Maria Zakharova, stated at a briefing that the topic of withdrawing Russian troops from the territory of Armenia has never been discussed in official bilateral contacts.

This was her response to a question from a NEWS.ru journalist, who recalled that Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan first expressed hope for strengthening ties with Moscow on the occasion of Russia Day, and the next day indicated that the Armenian government is interested in maintaining Russian troops in the republic. The journalist asked whether it was possible to speak of positive shifts in relations between the two countries.

In response, Zakharova emphasized:
"We have regular dialogue with Yerevan in all areas, with relevant departments involved. But the question of withdrawing Russian troops has never been raised at a practical level. Perhaps it is being discussed in public or expert circles in Armenia - that's a separate issue. But such a question has not been on the official agenda of our contacts."