A day after Armenia and Azerbaijan signed a long-awaited peace treaty in Washington, residents of the Armenian capital remain deeply split over the deal’s significance and potential consequences. The accord, brokered under the watch of U.S. President Donald Trump, aims to end decades of hostilities between the two Caucasus nations, which have been locked in a bitter territorial conflict since the collapse of the Soviet Union.
While the sweltering summer heat kept Yerevan’s streets mostly empty on Saturday, shaded parks and fountains buzzed with quiet debates over whether the agreement marks a turning point or a dangerous compromise.
Some see it as a necessary step. “It’s a good thing that this document was signed because Armenia has no other choice,” said 81-year-old retiree Asatur Srapyan. Acknowledging the country’s lack of military and geopolitical leverage compared to Azerbaijan, he described the accord as “a good opportunity for peace,” even if it falls short of delivering major gains.
Others expressed cautious optimism. Maro Huneyan, a 31-year-old aspiring diplomat, called the pact “acceptable” if it aligns with Armenia’s constitution. However, she voiced doubts over Azerbaijan’s willingness to uphold its commitments. “If Azerbaijan respects all the agreements, it’s very important for us. But I’m not sure it will keep its promises,” she said.
Yet strong opposition is evident among many Armenians. Critics such as 69-year-old Anahit Eylasyan reject the plan’s proposed transit corridor linking Azerbaijan’s Nakhchivan exclave to its mainland through Armenian territory. “We are effectively losing control of our territory,” she said, likening it to asking a stranger’s permission to move between rooms in her own home. She also accused Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan of making “endless concessions” without securing tangible benefits, such as the return of prisoners or occupied lands.
Shavarsh Hovhannisyan, a 68-year-old construction engineer, dismissed the treaty as “more of a surrender document than a peace treaty,” accusing Pashinyan of alienating Russia and Iran.
According to Trump, the deal commits both sides to permanently halt fighting, normalize relations, and respect territorial integrity. Still, experts like Caucasus specialist Olesya Vartanyan caution that its benefits may be short-lived, given the region’s entrenched mistrust. “We will have to plan only for the very short term,” she warned.
For now, Armenia finds itself balancing between hope for stability and deep-seated skepticism over whether peace with Azerbaijan can truly hold.
