September 5, 2026
4 developments
The SCO summit produces a diplomatic thaw
Pashinyan meets Aliyev and Putin in Bishkek, the first leader-level contacts since June; the Aliyev readout is warm, the Putin meeting tense but yielding a deal to explore selling the railway concession.
Armenia-Azerbaijan trade becomes bilateral
Mirzoyan says Armenian exports will begin within days, ending one-way Azerbaijani petroleum flows; January-July trade reached $17.4M.
Pashinyan questions the Russian base
He says he would not object to Russia withdrawing the 102nd base, and Putin's reciprocal framing acknowledges the changed reality.
Armenia's EU path gains momentum
Zelenskyy endorses the course, Pashinyan says he would welcome CSTO expulsion, and an EU-funded Armenia-Turkey business forum convenes.