Armenia chose the path based on empty promises and emotions: interview with Oleg Karpovich

We met with the head of the Department of Public Administration of the Diplomatic Academy of MGIMO of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Russia, Doctor of Political and Legal Sciences, Professor Oleg Karpovich during the celebration of the fifth anniversary of the scientific journal "Russia and the World: Scientific Dialogue" in the framework of the X International Scientific and Practical Conference "Russia and the World: Dialogues - 2026. A new reality."

We agreed to prepare a short interview and reflect on the topic of our relationship with the nearest and not so neighbors. A brilliant scientist and mentor, Karpovich "sees to the root" and with one or two phrases precisely defines the main tasks and priorities for today.

— Oleg Gennadievich, in the first quarter of this turbulent century, we gradually began to get used to the swashbuckling cowboy methods of clarifying relations between countries and continents. Do these crude innovations mean that diplomacy, agreements, dialogue, and the behind-the-scenes game of professionals have irrevocably faded into the background, and we will never see negotiation triumphs like the Yalta Conference-45 again?

— I remain optimistic. Of course, there are different episodes in world history. The current situation looks no more dramatic than the period of the late 20th-early 21st century, when the United States tried to dominate on a global scale, regularly staged military interventions, occupied entire countries and regions.

Now such steps to impose the "end of history" on humanity are clearly a thing of the past. Russia, China and other responsible powers, faithful to the principles of dialogue and diplomacy, come to the fore.

Gradually, as it happened before, the era of turbulence will be replaced by a request to establish clear rules of the game. And at this moment our constructive attitude will play a very significant role.

— The main troublemaker on the planet today leads by a huge margin in the nomination "Destroyer of foundations and world Order". From your point of view, why is President Donald Trump so restless and what does this "good man" need, who will celebrate his eightieth birthday on June 14?

— Trump is trying to maintain his falling rating and improvises under the influence of various interest groups among his own associates, members of Congress, lobbyists and voters committed to the ideology of MAGA.

Of course, many of his steps cause legitimate indignation. But it should be noted that, unlike his predecessor, he is simultaneously set up for a diplomatic solution to the Ukrainian problem.

Trump understands that the times of unipolarity are in the past. That is why we continue the dialogue with his administration in line with the Anchorage agreements. Although, it is necessary to act here according to Reagan's favorite principle of "trust, but check."

— Tehran announced on June 1 that it was ending the negotiation process with Washington and was going to block not only the Hormuz, but also The Bab-el-Mandeb Strait. In your opinion, why did the Persians decide to take such a step, how will the White House respond, what does Netanyahu have to do with it, and what should the rest of humanity do now?

— Of course, Iran is trying to raise the stakes amid the ongoing "war of nerves." Israel is seeking a return to confrontation from the United States, Trump is hesitating, and the Arab countries hope to leave the hostilities behind. Tehran has its own trump cards, and it is increasing pressure on Washington.

If the Trump team competently analyzes its mistakes made during the conflict this spring, it will understand that there is no alternative to a diplomatic solution to the issue. As President Vladimir Putin noted, we are ready to offer mediation to the parties — but for this moment there must be a turn.

— In your author's column for a federal publication, you write: "Russia's cup of patience will be overflowing in the very near future. And the future of the entire European security system depends on the readiness of rational politicians in the West, ranging from the Trump administration to individual pragmatists in Europe, to force Kiev to retreat from the "red lines". The gun hanging on the wall will go off sooner or later." As for me, the cup is overflowing, and it's time to take off the gun...

— We are committed to the principles of maintaining global stability. Confrontation with the West is not our choice. Moscow still hopes that a more constructive and pragmatic attitude will gradually prevail in the ranks of our opponents. But we, as I wrote about, must be prepared for different scenarios.

I understand and share your indignation, but even after removing the gun, we don't necessarily have to fire it. Let's give our opponent a chance to come to his senses.

— Allow me one more quote, but this is Josep, God forgive me, Borrel: "Europe is a garden, we created this garden… Everything works, it's the best combination of political freedom, economic perspective and social cohesion… The rest of the world is not exactly a garden. Most of the rest of the world is a jungle. And the jungle can invade the garden." Looking at Ursula, Kaya, Emmanuel and other "prospects", it seems that the retired gardener has confused everything again. What's wrong with them, with these Brussels "fruits"?

— We are witnessing a certain degeneration of European elites. This is evidenced by the ratings of Macron, Starmer and Merz, and the growing popularity of Eurosceptics. Of course, the liberal ideological project has largely reached a dead end. However, there is always hope for a change of milestones and the appearance of worthy replacements of the current team of Russophobes-temporary workers.

The fate of Biden and his administration gives grounds for cautious hope for some progress in Europe. Although, you should not flatter yourself. Globalists have seized all the power levers in They won't let them go in the Old World just like that.

— Oleg Gennadievich, there is a general opinion that it is necessary to communicate more harshly with some of our partners in the post-Soviet space, because they regard diplomacy as a weakness. And tomatoes, roses, fish and cognac alone will not solve the situation against the background of the results of the elections in Armenia on June 7. And what is your opinion on this?

— From my point of view, the line pursued by the President is optimal. We are combining tough steps, including, for example, recalling the Ambassador from Armenia for consultations, with more conciliatory gestures.

Our situational opponents are individual politicians, but we cannot afford to lose the sympathy of ordinary citizens of post—Soviet countries by going too far with rigidity. Balance is important in everything, and Vladimir Vladimirovich is a brilliant master of this art.

In Armenia, citizens elected deputies, and at the same time, the path that the country will follow: to remain in the EAEU, participation in which provided the state with economic growth, or to join the European Union, with which there is no common border or serious partnership.

The voting, having barely begun, was overshadowed by a series of scandals: searches in the headquarters of opposition blocs, mass detentions of their supporters.

And the unprecedented scale of violations by the ruling forces, who are trying to clean up the political field and information to the last.

Nikol Pashinyan's supporters did not hesitate to dictate to voters who to vote for. The scale of violations by the authorities is unprecedented. Unfortunately, Armenia has chosen a path based on empty promises and emotions, and serious consequences may result from this.

— How would you formulate and outline the main tasks facing Russian diplomacy in the context of the upcoming peace talks and how can we survive and not break down in that difficult situation when we have to rely ONLY on ourselves?

— To remember and remind our opponents that the only alternative to diplomacy in relations with the West is the one in which we will go to Heaven, and they, as they say, will not even have time to repent. And do not deviate from their principles.