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A Russian official said that Moscow is ready to discuss with Armenia its possible participation in the TRIPP project.
Mikhail Kalugin, director of the 4th CIS Department at the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, said that while the details of the “Armenian-American project have yet to be studied, Russia is ready to consult with its Armenian partners to discuss the parameters of the initiative, as well as Russia’s possible participation", according to the Russian state news agency RIA Novosti.
He added that “there are sufficient grounds for Russian participation” in the project.
“Our company, South Caucasian Railways, which is a subsidiary of Russian Railways, holds the management concession for Armenia’s railway network. The region uses Russian railway lines,” the official said.
According to the Russian official, the Trump Route would mostly pass through territory that falls under the area of responsibility of Russian border guards.
“We must also take into account Armenia’s membership in the Eurasian Economic Union. It is obvious that our partners cannot do without Russia,” the Russian Foreign Ministry official said.
The Trump Route for International Peace and Prosperity (TRIPP) is a connectivity project in Armenia envisaged under the U.S.-brokered Armenian-Azerbaijani joint declaration signed in Washington, D.C. The project is expected to unlock strategic economic opportunities, create long-term benefits by promoting infrastructure investment, and enhance regional connectivity. TRIPP is part of the Crossroads of Peace project, and an Armenian-American joint enterprise is expected to develop the route.
Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan has said that construction of the route is expected to begin in the second half of 2026, while the parameters and details are to be finalized by the end of 2025.