The Empire Putin Tried to Rebuild Is Coming Apart
Vladimir Putin is facing significant challenges as former Soviet republics, particularly Armenia, seek to distance themselves from Russian influence. Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan has been increasingly aligning with Western leaders, notably absent from Putin's recent Victory Day parade. This shift reflects a broader trend of former allies reassessing their relationships with Russia amid ongoing conflicts and political tensions.
- ▪Armenia's Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan is distancing his country from Russia ahead of parliamentary elections.
- ▪Pashinyan recently hosted a summit with EU leaders and emphasized Armenia's non-alliance with Russia regarding Ukraine.
- ▪Putin downplayed Pashinyan's absence from the Victory Day parade, but his comments hinted at concerns over Armenia's potential EU membership.
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The Empire Putin Tried to Rebuild Is Coming ApartRussia’s “little brothers” are growing up.Cathy YoungMay 20, 2026ShareArmenia’s prime minister, Nikol Pashinyan, posed with Volodymyr Zelensky, the president of Ukraine, in Yerevan on May 4, 2026; five days later, Pashinyan notably did not attend Vladimir Putin’s Victory Day parade in Moscow. (Photo by EPC Armenia/Anadolu via Getty Images)MAY HAS BEEN A CRUEL MONTH for Vladimir Putin, between the embarrassment of a truncated Victory Day parade on Red Square, the reports of Russian troops stalled in Ukraine, and now Ukrainian drones sowing fear in Moscow and its environs.
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