"Moscow’s recent overtures to Ukraine and Armenia concerning membership in the Russia-led Customs Union have been heavy on threats and hardball politics, and rather short on attempts at actually explaining the benefits of joining the union instead of pursuing European Union integration. Which offer is best?
Armenian President Serzh Sargysan’s recent surprise announcement in Moscow that he would pursue Customs Union membership was preceded by months of backroom malice on the part of the Kremlin, manifested in threats of raising Armenia’s gas prices by 60 percent, and a potential weapons deals to Armenia’s arch-enemy, Azerbaijan. Moscow has approached Ukraine and Moldova with the same bullying techniques, banning imports of Ukrainian chocolate and Moldovan wine while clumsily attempting to get Belarus and Kazakhstan to do the same.
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| Russian President Vladimir Putin with Viktor Yanukovych, president of Ukraine, and Moldovan President Nicolae Timofti at July ceremonies marking 1,025 years since the conversion of eastern Slavs to Christianity. Photo from the Kremlin website. |
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