EU trade lifeline: EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen visited Yerevan and announced “autonomous trade measures” that will temporarily liberalize about 80% of Armenian exports to the EU, including most fruits/vegetables and a large share of beverages, alongside new financial support to help exporters cope with Russian curbs. Armenia-Russia talks: Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan met Russian PM Mikhail Mishustin in Yekaterinburg, raising “problematic issues” tied to Moscow’s trade restrictions, while both sides reported no immediate agreements. Industrial momentum: Armenia’s manufacturing output rose 8.6% in Jan–May 2026 (to AMD 784.1bn), with food leading the gains, while industrial output overall increased 12.2% in the same period. Energy planning: Rosatom says Armenia may need a large or medium-capacity nuclear plant as demand grows and a capacity deficit could reach 1 GW in coming decades. Defense-tech push: Armenian officials discussed using domestic tech and engineering for the Ministry of Internal Affairs, including police and rescue modernization. Agriculture squeeze: Farmers warn export-oriented agriculture is effectively paralyzed after Russia restricted imports, threatening greenhouse and horticulture operations. Business diplomacy: Economy Minister Gevorg Papoyan met Indonesia’s industry minister to explore joint manufacturing and industrial zones under the “Crossroads of Peace” connectivity push. Legal/business crackdown: Pro-Russian opposition leader Gagik Tsarukyan was placed in pre-trial detention over alleged large-scale fraud and money laundering tied to imports.