Users: DoubleNaughtSpy: Sweden Bildt: Russia Threatened Economic Warfare with Moldolva, Armenia, Others - WSJ.com

VILNIUS, Lithuania--Swedish Foreign Minister Carl Bildt Friday slammed what he called "brutal" pressure by Russia on the European Union's eastern neighbors.

Earlier this week, Armenia said it would join Russia's customs union, effectively tearing up more than three years of talks with the EU on a trade and political deal. The negotiations on the EU accord were completed in July and the two sides had been set to sign in November.

EU diplomats have claimed Armenia's switch came after strong pressure from Moscow, pressure they say that has been placed on the likes of Moldova, Georgia and Ukraine.

"I think what we have seen during the last few weeks is brutal Russian pressure against the (Eastern) partnership countries of the sort that we haven't seen in Europe for a very long time," he told reporters on his way into a meeting of EU foreign ministers.

Mr. Bildt said Russia seemed to have timed its pressure when the world was focused on Syria "so they don't think it will be that much noticed. That's why it's important that we bring it up here and discuss what we can do."

Mr. Bildt highlighted the pressure on Moldova over gas supplies and wine sales.

"This is economic warfare they are threatening against these countries," he said.

Write to Laurence Norman at laurence.norman@dowjones.com