European leaders gather in Armenia for unprecedented summits

European leaders are gathering in Armenia for two unprecedented summits that underline the country's shifting diplomatic position.

More than 30 European leaders and Canada's prime minister are due in Yerevan for a European Political Community summit, followed by the first ever bilateral EU-Armenia summit on Tuesday.

The meetings are taking place in the Armenian capital, with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and European Council President António Costa expected to attend the EU-Armenia session.

Armenia is also a member of Russia's Eurasian Economic Union and hosts a Russian military base.

The summits come as Armenia remains heavily dependent on Russia for energy and gas supplies.

Russian President Vladimir Putin recently highlighted the price Armenia pays for gas during a visit by Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan to Moscow on 1 April.

The timing matters because the gatherings reflect a broader change in Armenia's foreign policy after the 2023 war with Azerbaijan over Nagorno-Karabakh.

Russia, which had peacekeepers on the ground, did not intervene when Azerbaijan launched a military operation that led to the expulsion of more than 100,000 ethnic Armenians.

Armenian officials have said that episode exposed weaknesses in the security arrangements the country had relied on.

Sargis Khandanyan, chairman of the foreign relations committee in Armenia's National Assembly, said the EU's physical presence had changed public perceptions and increased demand for closer ties.

The European Union had already brokered a border recognition deal and deployed a civilian monitoring mission in the region.

Armenia's parliament later passed a law in March 2025 to begin the process of joining the EU.

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