Putin has called for a "Eurasian Union" of former Soviet republics along
the lines of the European Union. However, he denied proposing to re-create
the Soviet Union, saying a new bloc would have different values. Eurasian
Union, Putin says, would be a close integration based on new values and
economic and political foundation is a demand of the present time. It would
"build on the experience of the European Union and other regional
coalitions. Putin said the aim was to "create real conditions to change the
geopolitical and geoeconomic configuration of the entire continent and have
an undoubtedly positive global effect".

Even as USA target Moscow for being anti-USA in real terms, an over
ambitious Russia is already consolidating its recently formed Customs Union
with Belarus and Kazakhstan, which will take effect next year. The intent
now seems to be to expand the number of its members and to enlarge its
functions and powers.

Putin keeps the Russian dream for an empire like the former USSR, alive.
As part of his poll campaign he already launched his pet theme Eurasian
Union. He is eager to recreate Soviet Union in a different format. The
Eurasian Union would be one of Putin's "key priorities" during his next
term as president. In a rare and lengthy newspaper piece published on Oct.
4, Putin announced his desire for Russia to again lead a multinational bloc
of tightly bound former Soviet republics. But major obstacles stand in the
way of Putin's project and the prospects of a new Eurasian Union emerging
anytime soon in the former Soviet space are small.

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