Belarusian Review

Prior to the third Eastern Partnership summit scheduled for November in Vilnius the EaP region has drawn significant international attention. The expected signing of the association package between the EU and Ukraine induces a quite nervous reaction from Moscow that attempts to pull Ukraine into the Customs Union with subsequent Russiacentric political alignment and advancement of economic ties. Such a reaction may be explained by the approach that has always dominated Russian politics towards ex-USSR countries after 1991 and became even more pronounced after Putin became Russian president for the first time.