Armenian PM Nikol Pashinyan and Russian President Vladimir Putin held a telephone conversation today to discuss bilateral relations, according to readouts from government press offices. The call was initiated as a personal gesture from Yerevan, with Pashinyan extending his congratulations and best wishes to Putin on his birthday. Beyond the birthday greetings, the two leaders shifted focus to the broader diplomatic framework, exchanging views on key issues currently impacting the bilateral agenda of Armenian-Russian relations. Insights from Russian Media & The Kremlin While Armenian government reports highlighted the congratulatory nature of the dialogue, Russian media outlets provided additional context surrounding the timing and significance of the call: Photo: Pashinyan, Putin meet on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) summit in Bishkek; September 1, 2026.