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SS: Following Pashinyan's election win a few weeks ago, the promise of a rapprochement between the EU and the CSTO member-nation seems to be on track. The European Commission President is set to travel to Armenia next week to further develop strategic EU-Armenia relations.

Von der Leyen’s visit will take place following a new announcement by the European Commission last Friday that it “disbursed €34 million to Armenia to help mitigate the impact of Russia's trade restrictions on the country's private sector,” as “the EU is delivering swiftly on its commitments to support Armenia and its people.”

“Additional support will be provided to sectors affected by the trade restrictions, including agri-food products, flower production and other export-oriented industries, through trade initiatives, business matchmaking events and targeted market access initiatives,” the European Commission said in a statement.

SS: France and Cyprus have concluded an agreement under which French forces can be stationed, train and operate in Cyprus while respecting national sovereignty. This is undoubtedly intended to reinforce Cyprus' defence position after efforts by the UK (which has a far great defensive presence on the island) were particularly slow in their Deployment of HMS Dragon following iranian Missiles being fired in the eastern Mediterrenean.

The agreement has not been well received by Ankara which 'expressed concerns that it could alter the balance of power on the island, disregard the rights of the Turkish Cypriots and create tensions. '

SS: Currently Serbia offers visa-free travel to russia, they may change soon though as recent rapporchements with the EU and recruitment efforts by Russian PMCs within serbian territory have strained relations between the two european nations.

The spokesman of the President of Russia, Dmitry Peskov, said in Moscow that Serbia's decision to abolish the visa-free regime with Russia could not be unilateral, without reciprocal measures.

SS: In another blow to russian global influence it appears that despite recent threats from Moscow, Armenia appears set to continue its westwards shift. This follows a general sense of frustration in Russia's refusal to support its CSTO partner nation when it came to blows with neighbouring Azerbaijian.

The latest survey ahead of Armenia’s decisive elections on 7 June has projected that Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan’s Civil Contract party could win nearly 65% of decided voters.