Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan and Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev are meeting in Abu Dhabi to finalize a peace agreement, marking the first formal meeting since decades of conflict. The absence of Russian influence is notable, as both countries distance themselves from Moscow. Richard Giragosian highlights the weakening of Russia's power in the South Caucasus and the implications for Armenia and Azerbaijan's future relations. The situation is complicated by internal tensions in Armenia, including coup attempts and Russian disinformation campaigns. Armenia is moving towards closer ties with the EU, while also normalizing relations with Turkey, amidst concerns of a potential Russian backlash.