Armenia risks effectively becoming a testing ground for unproven U.S. nuclear technologies by negotiating a $9 billion deal with Washington, Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said at a briefing.

Axar.az informs, citing TASS, Zakharova described the situation as “very murky,” stressing that the reactors being offered by the United States “exist only on paper,” while Armenia would ultimately bear the costs—at prices that could be higher than those advertised.

She was commenting on remarks by U.S. Vice President J.D. Vance, who earlier announced plans to supply Armenia with around $9 billion worth of civilian nuclear energy products and services, including small modular reactors, during a joint press conference with Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan.

“In reality, it turns out that Armenia—not the United States—would be paying for all of this,” Zakharova said, adding that the funds are expected to be channeled through a fund that has not yet been created and was originally intended for other infrastructure projects. “That makes the whole arrangement look rather murky,” she noted.

“Armenia is, of course, free to work with any partners it chooses, but the decision to opt for U.S. nuclear technology raises serious questions,” Zakharova said, emphasizing that the small nuclear power plants proposed by Washington do not exist either in the United States or elsewhere. She added that the final cost could ultimately be far higher than the figures cited in promotional materials.