Moscow accused Washington of playing a destabilizing role in the Southern Caucasus on Tuesday as Armenia and the United States prepared to sign a strategic partnership agreement. "The US has never played a particularly stabilizing role in the Southern Caucasus,

The Kremlin said on Tuesday that Russia values its close relations with Armenia and that the United States, which is set to sign a strategic partnership agreement with Armenia, had never played a stabilising role in the region.

The United States and Armenia, which has until now been closely allied with Russia, have signed a deal for strategic cooperation. US Secretary of State Antony Blinken and his counterpart Ararat Mirzoyan signed the document in Washington on Tuesday.