Minsk's EAEU meetings Economy, Armenia and trade

Oct 2

Kurbatova reports the EAEU premiers' Minsk meetings, first showing Lukashenko welcoming the delegations after a private Mishustin discussion. Lukashenko affirms integration, reaffirms support for Russia in the Ukraine war, describes a shared Russia–Belarus space and later urges Armenia to establish replacement buyers before discarding EAEU benefits. At the expanded council Kasymaliev thanks partners for petroleum supply; Mishustin and Bektenov give positive macroeconomic and nominal-investment figures. Pashinyan affirms mutually beneficial cooperation. The report describes Armenia's EU–EAEU choice; Slepnev compares European and Armenian gas prices, and Mishustin discusses the Union's gas-price advantage. Kurbatova cites Armenian export dependence, explains the unfinished Rasht–Astara section and recalls Putin's previous-day financing readiness; Omid-Zamani welcomes corridor cooperation. The report summarizes existing trade arrangements and Mishustin's India/Tunisia negotiations and partner-interest assessment, then says the next meeting will be in Moscow in December. Figures, benefits, market predictions and unfinished projects remain attributed; the package establishes no Armenian withdrawal, corridor completion or new free-trade 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.