17 August 2026 •
Armenia’s Acting Deputy Foreign Minister Vahan Kostanyan made an official visit to Ukraine, where he participated in the celebrations of the 975th anniversary of Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra. The visit is one of many high-ranking interactions between Armenian and Ukrainian officials in 2026, following Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s first-ever visit to Armenia to participate in the European Political Community summit in May.
At the Lavra celebrations, Kostanyan also spoke with UNESCO Director-General Khaled El-Enany, UN World Tourism Organisation Secretary-General Sheikha Al Nowais, and Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha.
Kostanyan conveyed Yerevan’s congratulations to Zelenskyy and Sybiha on the occasion.
Kostanyan’s Kyiv visit also included separate meetings with the Ukrainian Parliament’s Deputy Speaker Olena Kondratiuk on expanding high-level contacts and strengthening the bilateral agenda; with Deputy Foreign Minister Olexandr Mischenko on activating political dialogue, expanding economic ties, and deepening engagement in multilateral formats; and with the chair of parliament’s Committee on Foreign Policy and Interparliamentary Cooperation Oleksandr Merezhko on the Armenia–Ukraine cooperation agenda.
The visit followed a series of exchanges that began after the formation of a new parliament and government in Armenia following the June 2026 elections.
On 4 August, Sybiha congratulated his newly reappointed Armenian counterpart, Ararat Mirzoyan. In a social media post, Sybiha said that he looked forward to strengthening ties between the two countries and advancing regional peace and stability. The same day, Armenian Parliamentary Speaker Ruben Rubinyan spoke by phone with his Ukrainian counterpart, Ruslan Stefanchuk, who congratulated him on his election. They agreed to strengthen parliamentary ties and explore new areas of cooperation.
On 11 August, Mirzoyan and Sybiha spoke again, this time by phone, discussing the bilateral agenda and the regional situation. The following day, Zelenskyy held a call in which he congratulated Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan on his reappointment. They discussed bilateral cooperation and exchanged views on regional and global developments, emphasising the importance of achieving sustainable and lasting peace.
During the August exchanges, officials from both countries emphasised the goal of broadening the relationship beyond trade and parliamentary exchange to include cultural and humanitarian ties.
Armenia’s deepening ties with Ukraine coincide with the country’s turbulent relationship with Russia, which, since early May, has continued to ban various Armenian goods.
McGill Media :
Reacting to one of the biggest attacks by Ukraine at Moscow, killing at least 7 people and launching almost 600 drones at the Capital, Lincoln Project co-founder Rick Wilson wrote on X that the days of Putin’s glory are over, and his own men will soon murder him out of frustration and fear growing large from this never-ending war with neighbors Ukraine.
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The New Voice of Ukraine :
Kremlin officials continue to signal that Russia is unwilling to engage in constructive peace negotiations unless Ukraine accepts Moscow’s maximalist demands amounting to full capitulation, despite Kyiv’s efforts to advance a negotiating process
🔗 https://pm9dfw.s.gy/X68aFU
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Putin faces huge mutiny in Moscow as protesters swarm streets of Russian capital
Putin is coming under huge pressure.
https://www.express.co.uk/news/world/2239958/putin-faces-huge-mutiny-moscow/amp
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Dan Smith :
Old Jewish Joke
Rabinowitz every morning goes to the news stand and asks for the paper. He looks at the front page and walks away. He does this the next day too. Finally on the third day the newspaper seller asks him “ Rabinowitz, what are you looking for?” Rabinowitz says “Obituary”. “But Rabinowitz, the obituary always is on the last page!”
Rabinowitz: “ The one I am looking for will be on the front page”.
This is a courageous move by Armenia, because unfortunately putler still has a base inside their sovereign territory:
The Russian 102nd Military Base in Gyumri.
Wiki :
“The question about the presence of the Russian military base in Armenia has been raised in the European Commission. Some argue that the presence of the base serves an obstacle to Western investment and reforms and that the Armenian public and political system that is too closely linked with the Russian leadership.”