Lukashenko to Armenia Check EU export markets

Oct 2

In the released presidency excerpt, Alexander Lukashenko asks listeners not to rush away from the common market, saying other markets are not waiting for them. Using Armenia's pursuit of the European Union as his example, he says it should first establish buyers and quantities for its brandy, vegetables and fruit and assess whether these could replace what it currently sells to the existing market. He conditionally says Armenia could go ahead if France would buy its brandy, while claiming France cannot sell its own. He warns against putting the cart before the horse and concludes that Armenia should retain the common market's present benefits. The passage gives his advice and assessments, with no Armenian response or concluded market agreement.

At his 2 October 2026 meeting in Minsk with government delegation heads attending the Eurasian Intergovernmental Council, Alexander Lukashenko urged Armenia not to rush away from the EAEU common market while pursuing EU membership. He said Armenia should first establish buyers and quantities for its brandy, vegetables and fruit and determine whether those sales could replace its existing exports. He conditionally said it could go ahead if France would buy its brandy, while asserting that France already struggled to sell its own. He concluded that Armenia should retain market arrangements benefiting it. These are his advice and market assessments; the excerpt announces no Armenian withdrawal, EU accession or export agreement.