Armenia–Ukraine relations explained

Mission1:Embassy of Ukraine, Yerevan
Mission2:Embassy of Armenia, Kyiv

Ukrainian–Armenian relations are bilateral diplomatic relations between Ukraine and Armenia, which were established on 25 December 1991. Until then, both were member republics of the Soviet Union. Today, the countries are both members of the World Trade Organization, Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe, the United Nations, and the Eastern Partnership initiative of the EU. Currently, Ukraine has the 5th largest Armenian community in the world.[1] The Embassy of Armenia in Kyiv opened in 1993. The Embassy of Ukraine in Yerevan opened in 1996. The current Ambassador of Armenia to Ukraine is Vladimir Karapetyan. The current Ambassador of Ukraine to Armenia is Ivan Khukhta.

Economic cooperation

The main principles of economic cooperation between Ukraine and Armenia were outlined in the Treaty of Friendship and Cooperation between Ukraine and Armenia, which entered into force on May 26, 1997. Today, Ukraine and Armenia cooperate within the framework of the "Joint Intergovernmental Ukrainian-Armenian Commission on Economic Cooperation". Ukrainian exports to Armenia are metallurgical, chemical, agricultural, food goods and equipment, grain crops, alcoholic beverages, buses, and tires. Armenian exports to Ukraine electrical products, brandy, juices, tomato paste, mineral waters, cigarettes, and agricultural goods.[2] For 9 months in 2015, the trade turnover between the countries amounted to 94.2 million US dollars, while the trade in goods amounted to 76.7 million dollars.[3]

Exports from 2017-2020!Year!Exports from Ukraine to Armenia (millions)!Exports from Armenia to Ukraine (millions)
2020126.9826.40
2019148.4624.61
2018152.4718.25
2017114.410.19

The turnover of goods between Ukraine and Armenia for January-May 2022 amounted to $33.21 million, decreasing by 27.7%. Ukrainian exports to Armenia in the same period amounted to $29.01 million, decreasing by 26.5%. Armenian imports to Ukraine in the same period amounted to $4.1 million, decreasing by 46.4%. The balance of trade in goods and services for the relevant period in Ukraine is positive, at $24.81 million.[4]

Cultural ties

Lviv is home to the Armenian Catholic Church in Ukraine. Since the Soviet Union captured Lviv, its see remains "vacant". Since 1997, Lviv also became a center of Ukrainian eparchy (diocese) of the Armenian Apostolic Church (Orthodox).[5]

The city of Armyansk, originally as Ermeni Bazzar, is named after the Crimean Armenian community.

Ambassadors

Ambassadors of Ukraine in Armenia

Ambassadors of Armenia in Ukraine

State visits

GuestHostPlace of visitDate of visit
President Leonid Kuchma President Levon Ter-PetrosyanYerevanMay 1996
President Levon Ter-Petrosyan President Leonid KuchmaKyivJuly 1997
President Robert Kocharyan President Leonid KuchmaKyivMarch 2001
President Leonid Kuchma President Robert KocharyanYerevanOctober 10, 2002[13]
President Serzh Sargsyan President Viktor YushchenkoKyivJuly 28–29, 2008[14]
President Serzh Sargsyan President Viktor YushchenkoKyivFebruary 25, 2010[15]
President Serzh Sargsyan President Viktor YanukovychKyivJuly 1–2, 2011
President Serzh Sargsyan President Viktor YanukovychKyivJuly 1–2, 2012
[16]

Ukrainians in Armenia

See main article: articles and Ukrainians in Armenia. The Ukrainian community in Armenia began to form in the 19th century. As early as 1858, about 150 people were resettled from the territory of Ukraine to the modern territory of Armenia, where the village of Mykolaivka (now Amrakits, Stepanavan district) was founded. The majority of Ukrainians who currently live in Armenia arrived there in the post-WWII period (1945-1990). According to the 2001 census, 1,633 ethnic Ukrainians lived in Armenia by then.

The Yerevan Scientific and Educational Institute, created based on the Yerevan branch of the West Ukrainian National University, operates in Armenia. It is the only Ukrainian higher education institution in the South Caucasus.

Diplomacy

Republic of Armenia
Republic of Ukraine

Recent events

Throughout the Russo-Ukrainian war from 2014 to 2021 Armenia consistently supported Russia in voting against Ukraine at the United Nations,[17] in particular voting against United Nations General Assembly Resolution 68/262 on the territorial integrity of Ukraine. In the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, Ukraine has consistently supported Azerbaijan's territorial integrity and voted for United Nations General Assembly Resolution 62/243 demanding an "immediate, complete and unconditional withdrawal of all Armenian forces from all the occupied territories of Azerbaijan" and reaffirming "the inalienable right of the population expelled from theoccupied territories of the Republic of Azerbaijan to return to their homes".[18]

However, following the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine, Armenia ended its support for Russia's positions at the United Nations, and called for dialogue to end the war. On 7 September 2023, Anna Hakobyan, the wife of Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and his wife Olena Zelenska in Kyiv, Ukraine.[19] She had traveled to Kyiv at the invitation of the First Lady of Ukraine to participate in the "Summit of First Ladies and Gentlemen."[19] Hakobyan personally handed over 1,000+ smartphones, tablets and laptops for primary schoolchildren at the Ministry of Education and Science of Ukraine in Kyiv.[20] This was Armenia's first delivery of humanitarian aid for Ukraine since the Russian invasion of Ukraine started in February 2022.[20] On 1 June 2023, during an interview, Pashinyan had stated, "Armenia is not an ally of Russia in the war in Ukraine."[21]

In October 2023, Armenia participated in a multilateral peace forum, as part of Ukraine's Peace Formula, hosted in Malta. Armen Grigoryan, head of the Security Council of Armenia met with Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy.[22]

In June 2024, Armenian Ambassador to Ukraine Vladimir Karapetyan and Tigran Ter-Margaryan, the head of the Nor Nork District of Yerevan visited the site of Russian war crimes Bucha and condemned Russian aggression in their speeches. In response, Russia sent a protest note to Armenia and recalled their ambassador.[23]

On 15 June 2024, Armen Grigoryan, head of the Security Council of Armenia, participated in the June 2024 Ukraine peace summit in Lucerne, Switzerland.[22]

See also

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Всеукраїнський перепис населення 2001 | English version | Results | General results of the census | National composition of population . www.ukrcensus.gov.ua . 12 January 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20070706003257/http://www.ukrcensus.gov.ua/eng/results/general/nationality . 6 July 2007 . dead.
  2. Web site: Двосторонні відносини. ukraine.mfa.am. 2022-09-30. hy.
  3. Web site: Торгово-экономические отношения между Украиной и Арменией - Посольство Украины в Республике Армения . 2018-02-11 . https://web.archive.org/web/20151011032030/http://armenia.mfa.gov.ua/ru/ukraine-am/trade . 2015-10-11 . dead .
  4. Web site: Посольство України в Республіці Вірменія - Політичні відносини між Україною та Вірменією. armenia.mfa.gov.ua. 2022-10-09. uk.
  5. Web site: Миротворец пополнился новым другом Путина: в базу попал Рубен Варданян | Українські Новини.
  6. Web site: Харьковская область : Тягло Владимир Николаевич. 2018-02-11. 2016-03-04. https://web.archive.org/web/20160304203733/http://src-h.slav.hokudai.ac.jp/ukrregions/data/211.html. dead.
  7. Web site: Ukraine Ambassador's First Meeting with Robert Kocharyan.
  8. Александр Божко - Чрезвычайный и Полномочный Посол Украины в РА с 1996 по 2001 год.В июне 2005 года Чрезвычайным и Полномочным Послом Украины в РА был назначен Александр Божко.
  9. Web site: Հայաստանի Հանրապետության արտաքին գործերի նախարարություն.
  10. Web site: Armenian Ambassador to Ukraine Andranik Manukyan Resigns. en.aravot.am.
  11. Web site: Armenia appoints Tigran Seiranian new Ambassador to Ukraine. armenpress.am.
  12. Web site: Vladimir Karapetyan to replace Tigran Seiranian as Armenia's Ambassador to Ukraine.
  13. Web site: 5/10/15: Kuchma talks "the first step", Yeltsin visits Armenia. mediamax.am.
  14. Web site: Working visit of President Serzh Sargsyan to Yalta - Foreign visits - Updates - The President of the Republic of Armenia. www.president.am.
  15. Web site: President Sargsyan participated in Kiev in inaugural ceremony of the President-elect of Ukraine Viktor Yanukovich - Foreign visits - Updates - The President of the Republic of Armenia. www.president.am.
  16. Web site: Bilateral Relations.
  17. News: Nazaretyan . Hovhannes . 2023-03-23 . What Armenia’s UN Votes Tell Us About Its Foreign Policy . en-US . . 2023-10-07.
  18. Web site: Resolution adopted by the General Assembly on 14 March 2008 – The situation in the occupied territories of Azerbaijan . 14 March 2008. A/RES/62/243. United Nations. 18 March 2017.
  19. News: Pashinyan's wife's visit to Ukraine: who she met and what she discussed. 7 September 2023. 7 September 2023.
  20. Web site: Armenia sends Ukraine first assistance since start of war – digital devices for schools. 7 September 2023. 7 September 2023. Ukrainska Pravda.
  21. News: Pashinian Says Armenia Is Not Russia's Ally In Moscow's War With Ukraine . Radio Free Europe / Radio Liberty . 2 June 2023. 4 June 2023.
  22. Web site: Armenia To Join Swiss Summit On Ukraine. «Ազատություն». Ռ/Կ. June 14, 2024. www.azatutyun.am.
  23. https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world/russia-sends-protest-note-to-armenia-over-its-ambassador-s-visit-to-bucha/ar-BB1nWMvo?item=flightsprg-tipsubsc-v1a?season=2024