Moscow in retreat

On January 31, Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinian called on Russian President Vladimir Putin to take the “necessary” measures to help unblock the Lachine corridor. In recent months, the passivity of the Russian interposition force in the face of Azerbaijan’s intrigues has deteriorated relations between Russia and Armenia, hitherto close partners.

Talks had been initiated in May 2021, under the aegis of Russia, for the delimitation and demarcation of the border between Azerbaijan and Armenia. However, Moscow’s difficulties in invading Ukraine have allowed Europe to regain an important role in the normalization process.

The European Union established, on 23 January, a civilian mission to help monitor the volatile border between the two countries. This announcement aroused the ire of Russia, which accused Europe of coming to feed the geopolitical confrontation in the region.

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