Yevhenii Khmara: Kyiv cannot match Russia 'punch for punch'
Ukraine's new defence minister Yevhenii Khmara has said Ukraine cannot match Russia 'punch for punch' while outlining new strategies as Ukraine contin...
Armenia’s Security Council Secretary Armen Grigoryan says progress in talks with Azerbaijan is helping the country manage economic and security pressures as regional conflicts and alliances shift.
Speaking at the Delphi Economic Forum in Greece on Wednesday (22 April), he pointed to recent diplomatic steps, including a draft peace agreement and the Washington Declaration, aimed at normalising relations after years of tension between the neighbours.
Armenia and Azerbaijan have fought intermittently since the late Soviet period, including wars over Nagorno-Garabagh. In recent years, both sides have moved towards a formal peace framework, backed by international mediation.
"Yerevan has come close to signing a peace agreement with Baku. The Washington Peace Declaration signed with Azerbaijan brought real peace to our region. It also increased our ability to deal with the difficulties created by regional conflicts that affect us negatively," Grigoryan said.
Grigoryan said Armenia’s energy market has remained relatively stable despite volatility in global prices.
Fuel costs rose earlier this year but have broadly returned to end-of-last-year levels, he said.
He said the stability was partly due to growing economic cooperation with Azerbaijan, including fuel imports that have supported domestic supply.
Armenia has limited domestic energy resources and has traditionally relied on Russia and Iran for gas, oil products and electricity.
That dependence has left the country exposed to external shocks.
Since the start of the war in Ukraine, Russia’s energy sector has come under greater strain, including from infrastructure strikes and rising domestic demand, which have affected export capacity.
Sanctions and restrictions linked to Iran have added further uncertainty over supply routes and pricing.
Grigoryan said broader geopolitical tensions continue to shape energy markets.
He said developments in the Middle East, particularly involving Iran, have had a direct impact on global oil flows.
He highlighted disruptions such as the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, a key transit route for a large share of the world’s oil shipments.
Such disruptions can quickly affect fuel prices in smaller, import-dependent economies like Armenia.
According to Grigoryan, closer economic ties with Azerbaijan have helped ease some of these pressures.
Fuel imports linked to this cooperation have supported supply and reduced the impact of global price swings on the domestic market.
This comes as both countries explore broader economic links alongside political negotiations.
U.S. President Donald Trump said on Monday that there is a good chance” of reaching a deal with Iran, but warned that Washington would resume military operation if negotiations fail.
The Russia-Ukraine war is increasingly reshaping the Caspian region. From threats to energy infrastructure to renewed diplomatic efforts, countries across the region are adapting to the wider consequences of a conflict that continues to disrupt trade, transport and security.
Yemen warned the Houthis were seeking to replicate Iran's Strait of Hormuz strategy in the Red Sea, as U.S. President Donald Trump said there was a "good chance" of a deal with Tehran but warned strikes could resume if talks failed.
Moscow should stop linking Russia-Armenia relations to Azerbaijan, Baku's Foreign Ministry spokesperson Aykhan Hajizada has said, after Russia again raised the Collective Security Treaty Organisation's role during the former Garabagh conflict.
The 27 July edition of Daybreak covers a pause in fighting between the U.S. and Iran, the latest developments in Russia's war against Ukraine, and mass evacuations as wildfires continue to spread across France and Spain.
Türkiye and Iraq have signed five agreements aimed at expanding cooperation in transport, infrastructure, education, youth, sports and industrial development. The deals were announced after talks between Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and Iraqi Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi in Ankara.
Afghanistan and Uzbekistan signed 22 trade agreements worth more than $200 million during a business forum in Kabul on Sunday, as officials from both countries pledged to deepen economic cooperation and expand trade and investment.
Moscow should stop linking Russia-Armenia relations to Azerbaijan, Baku's Foreign Ministry spokesperson Aykhan Hajizada has said, after Russia again raised the Collective Security Treaty Organisation's role during the former Garabagh conflict.
President Donald Trump has dismissed Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's opposition to a potential sale of F-35 fighter jets to Türkiye, saying U.S. arms sales are decided by Washington alone. He also praised Türkiye as "a tremendous ally" and President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan as "a friend".
Pakistani businesses are warning that growing difficulties in obtaining United Arab Emirates (UAE) visas are disrupting trade, delaying investment and limiting access to a key export market, despite both Islamabad and Abu Dhabi saying there is no official visa ban.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment