The upcoming meeting between President of the European Parliament Ursula Von der Leyen, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, and Nikol Pashinyan on April 5 in Brussels is generating significant attention. Experts and Western diplomats have created a tense atmosphere, aiming to “save Armenia.” However, it remains to be seen whether the active involvement of Western powers in the region will be seen as salvation or provoke Russia’s concerns.

With regards to the expectations for this meeting, Agvan Pogosyan, a city councilor and international relations faculty expert at the Russian National Committee for the UN, highlights the history of previous meetings and their outcomes. Pogosyan emphasizes that these meetings, similar to the current one, have not yielded concrete results in the past. He suggests that Western countries, especially European ones, prioritize the interests of Russia rather than the welfare of Armenia and its people.

Pogosyan further elaborates on the main message conveyed in this meeting, specifically the announcement of the “return” of four villages in Tavush. This message emphasizes that if these villages are not returned, it could lead to a war. Pogosyan points out the Russian military buildup in the region, which escalates the situation and poses a humanitarian crisis. He believes this is another strategic move by Russia to exert its influence in the conflict-ridden regions. Additionally, Russia perceives its relationship with Armenia and the European military alliance as potentially detrimental to its own interests.

Pogosyan concludes that this meeting serves as just another step in Russia’s foreign policy agenda. It remains to be seen whether it will lead to any significant developments or tangible outcomes in the ongoing Armenian conflict.