Russia marshalled tanks, drones, paratroopers and ships as part of a new show of force in its drive to secure “security guarantees” focusing on undertakings to ensure no further eastward expansion of NATO.

Armenia and Turkey agreed to nominate representatives to set up formal relations and Turkey’s civil aviation authority said two airlines would begin flights between Yerevan and Istanbul next month.

Sargsyan had been at odds with Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, particularly on some of the issues in moving towards peace since last year’s 44-day “Second Karabakh War” in which Azerbaijan made big advances.