Russia warns it could end cheap fuel supplies to Armenia if Yerevan continues EU course

Russia said on Wednesday it had warned Armenia that it would suspend or terminate agreements on the supply ​of cheap oil and gas to the South Caucasus ‌country if it pressed ahead with its bid to join the European Union, Reuters reported.

"The Russian ​Embassy has officially forwarded a letter...stating that if the process ​of accession to the EU continues, the Russian side will suspend or unilaterally terminate the Agreement on Cooperation in the Supply of Natural Gas, ​Petroleum Products and Rough Diamonds," Maria Zakharova, Russian Foreign Ministry ​spokeswoman, told the RIA news agency.

Armenia, a landlocked nation of around 3 million, ‌has ⁠traditionally had close ties to Russia. It hosts Russian military bases and is heavily dependent on Russian energy imports. It imported 2.7 billion cubic metres (bcm) of gas last year, 82% of ​which came from ​Russia, according ⁠to the Interfax news agency.

But ties with Moscow have frayed in recent years as Yerevan has ​sought to deepen its ties to Brussels and ​Washington. ⁠Moscow earlier this month accused Armenia of being drawn into what it described as the EU's "anti‑Russian orbit".

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio ⁠visited Yerevan ​on Tuesday and signed a strategic partnership ​agreement with Armenia's foreign minister. Armenia has also adopted a law launching its ​EU accession process.