would be offered to join the West by siding with Eu-
moting integration and good relations in the former
rope. But despite having previously enjoyed good re-
Soviet region. Immediately after the break-up of the
lations with France, Germany and the US government
Soviet Union, CIS was formed and over the proceed-
under the leadership of Boris Yeltsin, Russia’s hopes
ing decade many other initiatives were set up to pro-
did not materialize and the country was left out in the
mote economic integration such as a free trade agree-
cold.
ment and the Eurasian Economic Community
Also in 2003, the EU developed its European
(EurAsEC) in 2000.
Neighborhood Policy (ENP), which focused on coun-
Later in 2007, Russia, Belarus and Kazakhstan
tries located in the shared neighborhood between it-
signed an agreement to set up a Eurasian Customs
self and Russia. Through the ENP, Europe began to
Union (ECU) in another effort to promote Eurasian
expand further east towards Central and Eastern Eu-
economic integration. The three founding countries
rope with the aim of promoting peace and stability in
later expanded on the ECU framework through the
these neighboring countries, many of which were for-
introduction of a common customs tariff launched in
merly part of Russia’s sphere of influence. With the
2010. The following year they introduced a common
US and Europe promoting governmental changes and
customs territory plan that removed border checks
Western values in these countries, Russia felt threat-
and controls between participating countries.
ened.
Subsequently, all three countries decided to con-
As the ENP was being launched, Vladimir Putin
tinue the expansion of the ECU, paving the way for
was reelected for a second presidential term from
continued economic integration and the creation of a
2004–2008. In contrast to his previously pro-West
single Eurasian market supported by an economic un-
agenda, Putin had adopted a more assertive foreign
ion. In late 2011, Moscow, Minsk and Astana signed a
policy agenda and opted to make Russia an independ-
treaty that aimed at the creation of a new economic
ent power, distanced from the West.
union based on the model of the EU, and established
For the first time since the break-up of the Soviet Union, Russia’s relationship with both the US and Europe had deteriorated simultaneously between 2003-2005.
the Eurasian Commission and the Single Economic Space (SES). Russia in particular considered the creation of an economic union to be a priority. In the meantime, the EU continued to expand further East until it reached Ukraine, a country located
The New Quietly Emerging Sphere Of Influence: The Eurasian Economic Union (EEU)
With Russia feeling increasingly excluded and further distancing itself from the West, it dramatically increased its focus on its immediate neighborhood, ultimately culminating in the creation of the Eurasian Economic Union (EEU). The EEU is not the first Russian attempt at proAtlantic Voices, Volume 5, Issue 3
strategically between the European Union and Russia, and considered by many to be the cradle of Russian civilization. Both entities made an offer to Ukraine to join their union, instigating an intense and divisive power struggle within Ukraine. Despite the general public opinion in Ukraine showing favour towards the EU, in November 2013 the then Ukrainian president Viktor Yanukovych decided to move closer towards 12