EU vs EAEU Pressure: Russia and allied EAEU leaders urged Armenia to hold an EU membership referendum “as soon as possible,” warning that Yerevan’s EU path creates “significant risks” and could trigger a review of its EAEU status in December. Trade & Sanctions: Moscow escalated economic pressure with new restrictions on Armenian fruit and vegetables (tomatoes, cucumbers, peppers, greens, strawberries) from May 30, alongside earlier curbs on flowers and Jermuk mineral water sales in Russia. Energy Leverage: The Kremlin also renewed threats over preferential gas and oil-product terms if Armenia continues moving toward the EU. Capital Markets: Armenia’s Central Bank and securities exchange officials highlighted efforts to deepen the local capital market, citing growth in institutional investors and the need for more corporate securities. AI & Education: Firebird announced Firebird Labs to back AI-native education and startups, with OpenAI support to bring frontier AI access to 50,000 students, teachers, and researchers. Elections & Influence: Reuters reported Russia is planning to bus about 100,000 Armenians in Russia to vote against PM Nikol Pashinyan, while separate reporting pointed to a dedicated Russian bot network on X targeting Armenia’s vote. US-Armenia Deal: During Marco Rubio’s visit, Armenia and the US signed/initialed major TRIPP connectivity and strategic partnership documents, including a framework for critical minerals and rare earths cooperation.