Putin signs economic union deal with ex-Soviet states

Russian President Vladimir Putin signed a deal in Astana, Kazakhstan with his counterparts from Kazakhstan and Belarus to create an economic union on the 29 May 2014.

Russia said the Eurasian Economic Union (EEU) of ex-Soviet states would create a shared market and help integrate economic policy, starting in 2015.

Critics stated the project was an attempt to revive part of the old Soviet Union.

Belarussian President Alexander Lukashenko predicted Ukraine would join the bloc eventually. President Putin suggested that Armenia might also join.

• Primary Source

ESO: Background information: Putin to visit Brussels as 'Eurasian Union' leader http://www.europeansources.info/record/putin-to-visit-brussels-as-eurasian-union-leader/

ESO: Background information: The end of Russia’s Eurasian project http://www.europeansources.info/record/the-end-of-russias-eurasian-project/

Deutsche Welle, 29.05.14: Ex-Soviet trio sign trade bloc deal http://dw.de/p/1C8pb

The New York Times, 29.05.14: Putin Signs Economic Alliance With Kazakhstan and Belarus http://www.nytimes.com/2014/05/30/world/europe/putin-signs-economic-alliance-with-presidents-of-kazakhstan-and-belarus.html

Deutsche Welle, 29.05.14: Eurasian Union: Putin's answer to the EU http://dw.de/p/1C8Y6

ESO: Background information: Eurasian integration could offer a counterpoint to the EU and the United States, but only in close co-operation with states like India and China http://www.europeansources.info/record/eurasian-integration-could-offer-a-counterpoint-to-the-eu-and-the-united-states-but-only-in-close-co-operation-with-states-like-india-and-china/

RIA Novosti, 29.05.14: Eurasian Economic Union to Become Economic Power West Has to Reckon With – Lawmaker http://en.ria.ru/world/20140529/190224662/Eurasian-Economic-Union-to-Become-Economic-Power-West-Has-to.html

RIA: Tag: Eurasian Economic Union http://en.ria.ru/tags/tag_EurasianEconomicUnion/

Wikipedia: Eurasian Economic Union http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eurasian_Economic_Union

Euronews, 29.05.14: Eurasian Economic Union: ‘Trade not politics’ http://www.euronews.com/2014/05/29/eurasian-economic-union-trade-not-politics/

Euronews, 29.05.14: Russia forms ‘epoch-making’ trading bloc with Belarus and Kazakhstan http://www.euronews.com/2014/05/29/russia-forms-epoch-making-trading-bloc-with-belarus-and-kazakhstan/

Euro|Topics, 30.05.14: Putin forges economic union http://www.eurotopics.net/en/home/presseschau/archiv/archiv_dossier/DOSSIER144324-Putin-forges-economic-union

Deutsche Welle, 29.05.14: Eurasian Economic Union http://dw.de/p/1C94f

---