Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko emphasized on September 30 that Russia should hold a central role in advancing the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) and the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU). The statement was made during a meeting with leaders of delegations participating in 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 added that Russia must remain “at the forefront” to “glue, unite, and prevent the main union from falling apart at this time.”
Earlier in August, Russian President Vladimir Putin highlighted the CIS as a key area of Russian policy, suggesting discussions on cooperation with certain CIS countries and outlining immediate goals for Russia in the region.
