Armenia could soon be on the path to joining the European Union, the country’s prime minister claimed Thursday against a backdrop of growing tensions with the Kremlin, which was once one of its top allies.

The Armenian government on Thursday introduced a bill to parliament that calls for the country to begin the process of joining the European Union. According to the Armenpress news agency, Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan emphasized that the government is committed to the law,

The bill was drawn up following a successful petition. In a document seen by Reuters, the government backed its introduction to parliament, saying it would represent "the beginning of the accession process of the Republic of Armenia to the European Union".

On Thursday, January 9, the Armenian government approved the draft law titled "On the Start of the Process of Armenia's Accession to the European Union," the news agency NEWS.am reports. "The draft law on the start of Armenia's EU membership process was submitted for discussion in the National Assembly as a civic initiative,