Union State

File:RIAN archive 141088 Signing Treaty on Establishing Russian-Belarusian Union.jpg and Boris Yeltsin signing the founding treaty of the Russian-Belarusian Union at the Grand Kremlin Palace in Moscow, 2 April 1997]]

File:Russiabelorussia1500rub1996scott6348.jpg

The Community of Belarus and Russia was founded on 2 April 1996,{{Cite journal |last=Žulys |first=Audrius |date=2005 |title=Towards a Union State of Russia and Belarus |url=http://www.ceeol.com/aspx/getdocument.aspx?logid=5&id=816CEE9F-AFBF-4353-AD6A-E3F5D96FFDCB |url-status=dead |journal=Lithuanian Foreign Policy Review |issue=15–16 |page=149 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150923202039/http://www.ceeol.com/aspx/getdocument.aspx?logid=5&id=816CEE9F-AFBF-4353-AD6A-E3F5D96FFDCB |archive-date=2015-09-23 |via=Central and Eastern Europe Online Library}} following 1995 agreements that established a Russian military presence in Belarus. The basis of the union was strengthened on 2 April 1997 with the signing of the "Treaty on the Union between Belarus and Russia", at which time its name was changed to the Union of Belarus and Russia.{{Cite journal |last=Žulys |first=Audrius |date=2005 |title=Towards a Union State of Russia and Belarus |url=http://www.ceeol.com/aspx/getdocument.aspx?logid=5&id=816CEE9F-AFBF-4353-AD6A-E3F5D96FFDCB |journal=Lithuanian Foreign Policy Review |issue=15–16 |page=150 |via=Central and Eastern Europe Online Library |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150923202039/http://www.ceeol.com/aspx/getdocument.aspx?logid=5&id=816CEE9F-AFBF-4353-AD6A-E3F5D96FFDCB |archive-date=2015-09-23}}

Several further agreements were signed on 25 December 1998, with the intention of providing greater political, economic and social integration.

Nevertheless, the nature of the political entity remained vague. Under pressure from his political opponents, who argued for a reunion of the two states, and from Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko, who sought to tie his excessively weak economy to Russia's stronger one, Russian President Boris Yeltsin initiated the creation of the Union to harmonize the political and economic differences between the two countries.{{cite web|url=http://www.personal.utulsa.edu/~robert-donaldson/yeltsin.htm |title=Boris Yeltsin's Legacy|website=personal.utulsa.edu|access-date=28 May 2008|archive-date=27 May 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190527093340/http://personal.utulsa.edu/~robert-donaldson/yeltsin.htm|url-status=dead}} According to some observers, Lukashenko's intention was also to gain great power, becoming president of a future Russia-Belarus federation after Yeltsin's demise due to his all-time low popularity. However, after Yeltsin resigned, Vladimir Putin was elected in 2000 to succeed him as Russian president. There was also the Freedom March, a 1999 protest against unification in the Belarusian capital of Minsk. Putin's election and the Freedom March forced Lukashenko to cancel his plans and maintain a balance between the independence of Belarus and Putin's increasing pressure for further integration of the two countries into the Union State.{{cite journal|url=https://www.foreignaffairs.com/articles/belarus/2020-02-05/will-belarus-be-next-ukraine|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200206152415/https://www.foreignaffairs.com/articles/belarus/2020-02-05/will-belarus-be-next-ukraine|date=5 February 2020|access-date=2 June 2020|archive-date=6 February 2020|quote=Lukashenko signed on in the apparent hope that he could one day replace Yeltsin and rule over both Belarus and Russia.|title=Will Belarus Be the Next Ukraine?|journal=Foreign Affairs |last1=Mankoff |first1=Jeffrey }}{{cite web |url=https://imrussia.org/en/analysis/3104-how-belarus-maneuvers-between-russia-and-the-west|website=Institute of Modern Russia|date=30 April 2020|access-date=2 June 2020|title=How Belarus Maneuvers between Russia and the West|quote=[...] Lukashenko was pleased with the idea for other reasons: he planned to use the arrangement to ultimately replace the unpopular Yeltsin. The creation of the Union State could lead to common citizenship, which would allow Lukashenko to run for the top office in case of Yeltsin's departure. Another reason for him to move closer to Russia was that Belarus’ highly industrialized economy relied heavily on Russian raw materials, mostly gas and oil.}}

The Treaty on the Creation of a Union State of Russia and Belarus was signed on 8 December 1999.{{cite web |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/555384.stm |title=Russia and Belarus form confederation |date=8 December 1999 |website=news.bbc.co.uk}} The intention was to achieve a federation like the Soviet Union, with a common head of state, legislature, flag, coat of arms, anthem, constitution, army, citizenship and currency. The Union was ratified by the Russian State Duma on 22 December 1999 and the National Assembly of Belarus on 26 January 2000. On the latter date the Treaty and the Union came into effect.{{Cite journal |last=Žulys |first=Audrius |date=2005 |title=Towards a Union State of Russia and Belarus |url=http://www.ceeol.com/aspx/getdocument.aspx?logid=5&id=816CEE9F-AFBF-4353-AD6A-E3F5D96FFDCB |journal=Lithuanian Foreign Policy Review |issue=15–16 |page=151 |via=Central and Eastern Europe Online Library |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150923202039/http://www.ceeol.com/aspx/getdocument.aspx?logid=5&id=816CEE9F-AFBF-4353-AD6A-E3F5D96FFDCB |archive-date=2015-09-23}}

Then Kazakh President Nursultan Nazarbayev had put forward a similar proposal in 1994, envisioning the founding of a Eurasian union, but this proposal was not adopted until 29 May 2014 with the formation of the Eurasian Economic Union.Asadova, Nargiz. "An interview with Prime Minister of Kazakhstan Karim Masimov". Originally printed in Kommersant, 4 June 2007, p. 2. Translated by Ferghana.Ru {{cite web|url=http://enews.ferghana.ru/article.php?id%3D1994 |title=An interview with Prime Minister of Kazakhstan Karim Masimov – Ferghana.Ru Information agency, Moscow |access-date=28 May 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080605194618/http://enews.ferghana.ru/article.php?id=1994 |archive-date=5 June 2008 }}

The Treaty on the Creation of a Union State creates legal framework as constitutional act and establishes the following institutions{{Cite web|url=http://page726227.html/|title=Союзное государство: 20 лет совместного развития|website=page726227.html}}{{Dead link|date=April 2023 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}

• Supreme State Council{{Cite web|url=https://belrus.ru/info/status_vyisshego_gosudarstvennogo_soveta_soyu/|title=Статус Высшего Государственного Совета Союзного госдарства|website=belrus.ru}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.postkomsg.com/higher_authorities/the_supreme_state_council.php|title = Официальный сайт Постоянного Комитета Союзного государства | Высший Государственный Совет}}
• Council of Ministers{{Cite web|url=https://www.postkomsg.com/higher_authorities/council_of_ministers.php|title=Официальный сайт Постоянного Комитета Союзного государства | Совет Министров|website=www.postkomsg.com}}
• Union Parliament
• Court of the Union
• Accounting Chamber

The Union State based on its founding treaties has exclusive jurisdiction over the creation of a single economic space and legal foundations for a common market, monetary union, single tax and pricing policy, unified development and procurement of defence equipment, unified system of technical support for the armed forces. Common command of regional military is further realized through many other documents based on this Union State jurisdiction,{{Cite web|title=Соглашение между Российской Федерацией и Республикой Беларусь о создании и функционировании объединенной системы связи региональной группировки войск (сил) Республики Беларусь и Российской Федерации от 19 января 2008 – docs.cntd.ru|url=https://docs.cntd.ru/document/902121025|access-date=2021-10-14|website=docs.cntd.ru}} common border policy and other jurisdictions.

Besides exclusive jurisdictions of the Union State there are joint jurisdiction of the Union State and the subjects of the Union State that includes joint defence policy, harmonization and unification of the legislation of the subjects of the Union State, development of science, education, culture, formation of a common scientific, technological and information space, migration, working conditions and labor protection, social security, combating terrorism, corruption and others.

Outside the limits of the exclusive jurisdiction of the Union State and subjects of joint jurisdiction of the Union State and the subjects of the Union State, the subjects of the Union State retain the full completeness of state power.

Pavel Borodin was the first State Secretary of the Union. He was first appointed by the Supreme State Council on 26 January 2000 for a four-year term. In 2004 and 2008 his term was renewed for an additional four years, leaving office in 2011. Since then the office has been held by Grigory Rapota, Dmitry Mezentsev and Sergey Glazyev.{{citation needed|date=April 2022}}

Union State is ruled through Supreme State Council of the Union. The Supreme State Council of the Union includes the member heads of states, respective governments, and both chambers of parliaments. Decisions on Supreme Council are made by principle of one state – one vote and presidents of states give that vote. Supreme Council includes the chairman of the Executive Committee of the Union that have an advisory vote. The President of the Supreme State Council is the head of one of the participating States on a rotation basis, unless the participating States agree otherwise.

Supreme State Council makes decisions on issues regarding the security of the member states of the Union including their collective protection from outside threats, the protection of the Union's borders, military development, and many other issues.

The Council of Ministers is composed of the member states' Prime Ministers, Ministers of Foreign Affairs, Economy, and Finance and the State Secretary of the Union. Permanent Committee of the Union State{{Cite web|url=https://www.postkomsg.com/higher_authorities/permanent_committee/|title = Официальный сайт Постоянного Комитета Союзного государства | Постоянный Комитет Союзного государства}} is formed as permanent working body of Council of Ministers.{{Cite web|url=https://www.postkomsg.com/|title=Постоянный Комитет Союзного государства Россия Беларусь|website=www.postkomsg.com}} Current president of Council of Ministers is Mikhail Mishustin.

File:Stamp of Belarus - 2019 - Colnect 922382 - 20th Anniversary of Russia Belarus Union Treaty.jpeg

Parliamentary Assembly of the Union comprises two chambers – the House of the Union and the House of Representatives. The House of Representatives should contain 75 deputies from Russia and 28 from Belarus, elected by the general populace of each. According to treaty, currently only House of the Union is formed and it consists of 72 deputies – 36 from Russia and 36 from Belarus. Before the elections for the House of Representatives of the Union State Parliament, the functions of the Union State Parliament are performed by the Parliamentary Assembly of the Union of Belarus and Russia in accordance with paragraph 4 of Article 70 of the Treaty on the Establishment of the Union State of 8 December 1999. Regular sessions of the Parliamentary Assembly House of the Union are held twice a year and for Quorum at least two third is needed to be present. House of the Union Parliament has president and four vice presidents and 8 permanent committees for different areas of legislature.{{Cite web|url=https://soyuz.by/parlamentskoe-sobranie-soyuza-belarusi-i-rossii|title = Парламентское Собрание Союза Беларуси и России}} Current president of Parliamentary Assembly of Union is Vyacheslav Volodin{{Cite web|url=http://duma.gov.ru/news/47029/|title=21 ноября Вячеслав Володин проведет сессию Парламентского Собрания Союза Беларуси и России|website=Государственная Дума|date=21 November 2019 }} On 12 December 2020, the 59th joint session of the House of the Union parliament was held to consider the Union State budget for 2021. in 4715,15 millions of roubles or approximately 61.631.112 US dollars{{Cite web|url=http://duma.gov.ru/news/50355/|title=Выступление Вячеслава Володина на открытии 59-й сессии Парламентского Собрания Союза Беларуси и России|website=Государственная Дума|date=21 December 2020 }}{{Cite web|url=http://duma.gov.ru/news/50358/|title=Парламентарии утвердили бюджет Союзного государства Беларуси и России на 2021 год|website=Государственная Дума|date=21 December 2020 }}{{Vague|reason=Weird spelling & grammar. Unclear what exactly is meant by these numbers.|date={{CURRENTMONTHNAME}} {{CURRENTYEAR}}}}

Court of Union should consist of nine judges appointed for six-year terms. But while provisions for court are given in adopted treaty court was not formed.{{Cite web|url=https://belrus.ru/info/sud/|title=Суд|website=belrus.ru}}

Accounting Chamber, is tasked with controlling the implementation of the Union State budget. It consists of 11 members{{Cite web|url=https://belrus.ru/info/schetnaya_palata/|title = Счетная палата}} appointed for a period of 6 years from among the citizens of the member states who have experience in control and audit who are appointed by the Parliament of the Union State on the proposal of the Council of Ministers. The Accounting Chamber establishes its own regulations, which are approved by the Council of Ministers.

The official languages of the Union State are the state languages of the participating states. Russian is used as a working language in the common organs of the Union State.

Shortly after its inauguration, both member states seemed to have lost their enthusiasm for the Union, with first Russia, and then Belarus, restoring customs controls along their common border in 2001, effectively suspending the customs union until it was restored in 2010. Plans had also been set in motion to implement a common currency across the Union, but these have been postponed several times.

On 16 November 2010, it was announced by the Union State website that the Constitutional Act was 99% ready.{{cite web |url=http://soyuz.by/en/?guid%3D93291 |title=S. Shorshorov: Draft Constitutional Act is 99% Ready |access-date=22 November 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110706163522/http://soyuz.by/en/?guid=93291 |archive-date=6 July 2011 }}

Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko promised to introduce a common currency on 1 January 2004. The currency was not introduced, and the plan was pushed back by one year. On 1 January 2005, the Union State again failed to introduce a common currency, and it was again postponed by one year, which, in 2006, happened once again. During a press-conference in Minsk on 2 February 2006, Pyotr Prokopovich, chief of the National Bank of Belarus, announced that a "common currency might be introduced in 2007". This, however, failed to occur in 2007. The National Bank of the Republic of Belarus announced that, starting in 2008, the Belarusian ruble would be pegged to the United States dollar instead of the Russian ruble.{{cite news |title=Belarus to link currency to dollar |url=http://www.boston.com/news/world/europe/articles/2007/08/15/belarus_to_link_currency_to_dollar/ |publisher=Associated Press |date=15 August 2007 |access-date=1 October 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080422011401/http://www.boston.com/news/world/europe/articles/2007/08/15/belarus_to_link_currency_to_dollar/ |archive-date=22 April 2008 |url-status=dead }}{{Needs update|date=July 2023|reason=Is the Belarusian ruble still pegged to the USD? If not, why?}}

Union State grants citizenship to citizens in both states meaning that every citizen of the Russian Federation and every citizen of the Republic of Belarus is at the same time a citizen of the Union with the guaranteed right to move and reside freely within the territory of the other party, allowing Belarusian citizens to travel freely in Russia and have the right to settle there to work or study, and vice versa including possession, use and disposal of property on the territory of another state.{{cite web |date=24 January 2006 |title=The agreement between the Republic of Belarus and the Russian Federation on providing the equal rights of citizens of the Republic of Belarus and the Russian Federation on freedom of travel, the choice of the place of stay and residence in the territories of the State Parties of the Union State |url=https://cis-legislation.com/document.fwx?rgn=21198 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220511024503/https://cis-legislation.com/document.fwx?rgn=21198 |archive-date=11 May 2022 |website=cis-legislation.com}} The Union State does provide citizens of Russia and Belarus the right to work and permanently settle in either country without formal immigration procedures otherwise mandatory for foreign nationals. They retain their national passports and other identification papers.

On 10 February 2009, Russia and Belarus implemented the first stage of joint military officer training programs designed to integrate the military structures of the countries. This military collective is called the Regional Forces Group of Belarus and Russia (RGF). The goal of these operations is to ensure cohesive training, practice and implementation of military interests for the nations, and were aimed at strategic and battle training taking place in February and March 2009.{{cite news |title=Link to joint military training |url=http://soyuz.by/en/?guid=55832 |work=Union State Website |date=11 February 2009 |access-date=21 February 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090814222700/http://soyuz.by/en/?guid=55832 |archive-date=14 August 2009 }} Furthermore, the military doctrine of the Russian Federation provides that "an armed attack on the state-participant in the Union State, as well as all other actions involving the use of military force against it," should be deemed "an act of aggression against the Union State", authorizing Moscow to "take measures in response".{{cite news |title=Union State of Russia and Belarus: a military union? |url=http://windowonheartland.blogspot.com/2012/01/union-state-of-russia-and-belarus.html |work=Window on Heartland |date=14 January 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160108110022/http://windowonheartland.blogspot.com/2012/01/union-state-of-russia-and-belarus.html |archive-date=8 January 2016 }} On 6 December 2024, Russia and Belarus signed a treaty about mutual security guarantees. The treaty was ratified by Russia on 28 February 2025 and by Belarus on 4 March 2025.{{cite web | title=Russia ratifies treaty with Belarus on security guarantees | website=TASS | date=2025-02-28 | url=https://tass.com/defense/1920757 | ref={{sfnref|TASS|2025}} | access-date=2025-03-08}}{{cite web | title=Aleksandr Lukashenko signs Belarus-Russia security treaty into law | website=president.gov.by | url=https://president.gov.by/en/events/belarus-ratificirovala-dogovor-s-rossiej-o-garantiah-bezopasnosti-1741168850 | ref={{sfnref|president.gov.by}} | access-date=2025-03-08}} The accord entered into force on 13 March 2025.{{cite web | title=Joint news conference with President of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko | website=President of Russia | date=2025-03-13 | url=http://en.kremlin.ru/events/president/news/76450 | ref={{sfnref|President of Russia|2025}} | access-date=2025-03-16}}

File:Flag of the Union State.svg

Since the formation of the Union State in 1997, Belarus and Russia have thus far failed to institute any symbols or even a flag for the Union State. There have, however been several proposals for flags and coats of arms.{{cite web |url=http://www.vexillographia.ru/belarus/union.htm |title=флаги союза РФ и РБ |website=vexillographia.ru }}

Two proposals have been made for the flag of the Union. In all cases, they are modifications to the flag of the Soviet Union, but representing the state (not communism). In both cases, two gold stars are placed in the canton of the red flag (to represent the two states of the Union).

A proposed coat of arms is a modification of the double-headed eagle holding the coats of arms of Russia and Belarus.{{cite web |title= |script-title=ru:Проект герба Союза России и Белоруссии (2002 г.) |url=http://geraldika.ru/symbols/7540 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230406005422/https://geraldika.ru/s/7540 |archive-date=6 April 2023 |access-date=27 October 2008 |work=Geraldika.ru |language=ru}}

A song called "Sovereign Union of Nations" ({{langx|ru|Державный союз народов}} {{lang|ru-Latn|Derzhavny soyuz narodov}}, {{langx|be|Дзяржаўны саюз народаў}} {{lang|be-Latn|Dzyarzhauny sayuz narodau}}) has been proposed as the Union's unofficial anthem. The song, which was modified from the National Anthem of the Soviet Union, refers to a wider union of the two nations.{{cite web |url=http://www.russianmaster.ru/gimn.html#sd |script-title=ru:Державный Союз Народов |access-date=22 February 2008 |year=2003 |language=ru }}

Belarus and Russia had been collecting a value-added tax (VAT), meant to finance the Union State, in the country of origin, but from 1 January 2005, VAT is collected in the country of destination, as in most other independent countries of the world. This change gave rise to a considerable degree of confusion and has disrupted many trade operations between Belarus and Russia. On 10 February 2005, private entrepreneurs in Belarus staged a one-day warning strike, protesting the new VAT scheme between the two countries and Lukashenko's economic policies.

File:Commonwealth of Independent States Union of Russia and Belarus.svg (pink)]]

• {{flag|Abkhazia}} and {{flag|South Ossetia}} both currently have observer status in parliamentary sessions.{{cn|date=February 2023}} Both Abkhazia and South Ossetia expressed a desire to join the Russia-Belarus Union State, although neither is recognized by Belarus.{{cite web|url=https://civil.ge/archives/562121|title= Bzhania Readies to Host the Russian Navy, Wants to Join the Union State |date=5 October 2023|publisher=Civil Georgia|access-date=29 December 2023}}
• {{flag|Armenia}}: Several political parties including the Constitutional Rights Union,{{Cite web|url=https://iravunk.com/sim/?p=198579&l=am|title=Ambassador of Belarus to Armenia Alexander Konyuk visited the CRU office|website=iravunk.com}} National Unity,{{cite web|url=https://iravunk.com/?p=202925&l=am|title=Արտաշես Գեղամյան. Հայաստանն անվտանգության մեջ կլինի միայն Ռուսաստանի և Բելառուսի միութենական պետությունում|trans-title=Artashes Geghamyan: Armenia will be secure only in the Union State of Russia and Belarus|date=May 12, 2021|website=iravunk.com|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210514034225/https://iravunk.com/?p=202925&l=am|archive-date=May 14, 2021|url-status=unfit}} and the Towards Russia Party{{Cite web|url=http://newsmedia.am/?p=2541679&l=am/|title=Մենք սորոսականներին Հայաստանից վռնդելու ենք. Հայկ Բաբուխանյան (Տեսանյութ)|trans-title=We will expel the Syrians from Armenia: Hayk Babukhanyan (Video)|date=December 31, 2020|website=newsmedia.am}} have expressed their desire for the country to join the Union. In April 2025, the newly-elected Mayor of the second-largest city of Gyumri from the Communist Party Vardan Ghukasyan supported joining the Union State.{{cite web|url=https://oc-media.org/gyumris-newly-elected-mayor-says-he-supports-a-union-state-with-russia/|title= Gyumri's newly elected mayor says he supports a union state with Russia |date=17 April 2025|publisher=OC Media}}
• {{flag|Kazakhstan}} had expressed interest in forming a separate customs union with Russia and Belarus by 2010.{{cite web |title=Customs Union of Belarus, Russia, Kazakhstan to be up and running by 2010 |url=http://www.gtk.gov.by/en/news?id%3D633 |access-date=31 July 2007 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120315081414/http://www.gtk.gov.by/en/news?id=633 |archive-date=15 March 2012 }} This Customs Union was formed as planned at the beginning of 2010. Kazakhstan has mentioned that it may join the Union State after some time. In late May 2023, however, President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev declined an offer by President Alexander Lukashenko to join the union, referring to it as a "joke."{{Cite web |url=https://www.pravda.com.ua/eng/news/2023/05/29/7404326/ |title=Kazakhstan's President declines Lukashenko's offer to join the Union State of Russia and Belarus |last=Balachuk |first=Iryna |date=May 29, 2023 |website=Ukrainska Pravda}}
• {{flag|Kyrgyzstan}}: As of June 2007, opposition in Kyrgyzstan, which has been locked in political turmoil, had initiated a nationwide referendum to join the union of Russia and Belarus.{{cite web|url=http://news.trendaz.com/cgi-bin/readnews2.pl?newsId=941962&lang=EN |title=Trend – Новости Азербайджана. Турция, Иран, Центральна Азия |website=news.trendaz.com}}
• {{flag|Moldova}}: In 2001, president of Moldova Vladimir Voronin announced right after his election that he had plans for Moldova to join the Union of Russia and Belarus.{{cite web |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/1281492.stm |title=Moldova ready for Russia Belarus union |date=17 April 2001 |work=BBC News Online }}{{cite web|url=http://www.ecmi.de/download/brief_3.pdf |title=Communists of Moldova and the future of the country's ethno-political conflicts |access-date=31 July 2007 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070819161516/http://www.ecmi.de/download/brief_3.pdf |archive-date=19 August 2007 }} The coming to power of the Alliance for European Integration at the 2009 Moldovan elections has since shifted Moldovan interest towards the European Union.
• {{flag|Transnistria|state}}: in the Transnistrian referendum of 2006, the government said 97.2% of the population voted for the integration of the unrecognized state of Transnistria into Russia, which analysts say indicates a possibility that Transnistria might unilaterally ask to join the Union, once it is established. Already in spring 1998, 66.5% of Transnistrian voters supported joining the Union of Russia and Belarus in a non-binding referendum by the Transnistrian state.{{cite web |quote=That same year, the Tiraspol Supreme Soviet chairman declared that the Transnistrian republic will demand that Moldova accepts full integration into the CIS and that it joins the Russian Federation–Belarus union, viewed as a possible future model for the MTR's status vis-a-vis the Republic of Moldova. A non-binding referendum on joining the Russia–Belarus union was held between April and June 1998, with over 66 percent of the ballots supporting the union. However, like the province of Kaliningrad on the Baltic Sea (isolated from Russia by independent Lithuania and Poland), the east-bank separatist region, has no common borders with either Belarus or the Russian Federation. |url=http://www.moldova.org/pagini/eng/767 |title=Transnistria or Moldavian Transnistrian Republic: Just facts |publisher= Trades Ministry of the Republic of Moldova |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081220021433/http://www.moldova.org/pagini/eng/767 |archive-date=20 December 2008 }} However, not being recognised by either member, this is unlikely to happen in the near future.
• {{flag|Ukraine}}: In response to speculation about Ukraine joining the Union, then-president of Ukraine, Viktor Yanukovych, declared that Ukraine is an independent sovereign state and this is not something that can be questioned by anyone in the government.{{cite web |url=http://www.president.gov.ua/en/news/16823.html |title=President makes statement regarding debates over idea of so-called union of Ukraine, Russia and Belarus |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120320095720/http://www.president.gov.ua/en/news/16823.html |archive-date=20 March 2012 |access-date=1 April 2010 |postscript=; }} {{cite web |url=http://www.rusrand.ru/pubpoll/pubpoll_245.html |script-title=ru:Опыты независимой аналитики КУДА ИДЕМ МЫ С ЯНУКОВИЧЕМ? |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120315173120/http://www.rusrand.ru/pubpoll/pubpoll_245.html |archive-date=15 March 2012 |publisher=Центр проблемного анализа и государственно-управленческого проектирования |date=9 April 2010 }} The issue is to be reconsidered in the new light of the Revolution of Dignity and the developments of the Euromaidan movement seeking for the integration into the European Union. During the term of office of the fifth President of Ukraine Petro Poroshenko, the Constitution of Ukraine in 2019 was amended to consolidate the irreversibility of Ukraine's course to join the European Union and NATO after the events of the Revolution of Dignity in 2014. In 2021, the sixth president of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, stated that the creation of a "true union state" between Belarus and Russia is a real danger for Ukraine.{{Cite web|url=https://rubryka.com/2021/05/31/zelenskyj-zayavyv-shho-spravzhnya-soyuzna-derzhava-rosiyi-ta-bilorusi-ye-zagrozoyu-dlya-ukrayiny/|title=Зеленський заявив, що "справжня союзна держава" Росії та Білорусі є загрозою для України|date=31 May 2021|website=Рубрика|access-date=3 June 2021|archive-date=24 February 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220224165741/https://rubryka.com/2021/05/31/zelenskyj-zayavyv-shho-spravzhnya-soyuzna-derzhava-rosiyi-ta-bilorusi-ye-zagrozoyu-dlya-ukrayiny/|url-status=dead}} Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2022 in an escalation of the Russo-Ukrainian War that continues today.
• {{flag|Novorossiya|state}}: During the 2014 Russian military intervention in Ukraine, Deputy Prime Minister Rustam Temirgaliev of the Russian-annexed Republic of Crimea expressed the hope that southeastern Ukraine would form a "Ukrainian Federation" and join the Union State.{{cite news |date=12 April 2014 |url= http://www.pravda.com.ua/news/2014/04/12/7022211/|script-title=uk:Теміргалієв оголосив про швидке створення "Української Федерації" |trans-title=Temirgaliyev announced the imminent creation of the "Ukrainian Federation" |newspaper=Ukrayinska Pravda }} However, only the self-proclaimed Donetsk People's Republic and Luhansk People's Republic broke away from Ukraine, and the confederate Novorossiya political project was frozen at the start of 2015.{{cite web |url=http://uatoday.tv/politics/russian-backed-novorossiya-breakaway-movement-collapses-428372.html |title=Russian-backed 'Novorossiya' breakaway movement collapses |work=Ukraine Today |date=20 May 2015 }}{{cite news |author=Vladimir Dergachev |author2=Dmitriy Kirillov |url=http://m.gazeta.ru/politics/2015/05/19_a_6694441.shtml |script-title=ru:Проект «Новороссия» закрыт|trans-title=Project "New Russia" is closed |language=ru |work=Gazeta.ru |date=20 May 2015}}{{Cite web |title=Why the Kremlin Is Shutting Down the Novorossiya Project |url=http://carnegieendowment.org/2015/05/29/why-kremlin-is-shutting-down-novorossiya-project/i96u |website=Carnegie Endowment for International Peace |access-date=20 December 2015 |archive-date=22 December 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151222171800/http://carnegieendowment.org/2015/05/29/why-kremlin-is-shutting-down-novorossiya-project/i96u |url-status=dead }}
• {{flag|FR Yugoslavia}}/{{flag|Serbia}}: On April 12, 1999, the Federal Assembly of the FR Yugoslavia passed the Decision on the accession of the FRY to the Union state of Russia and Belarus.{{cite news |newspaper=Službeni list SRJ |url=https://www.pravno-informacioni-sistem.rs/SlGlasnikPortal/eli/rep/slsrj/skupstina/odluka/1999/25/1/reg |title=Одлука о приступању Савезне Републике Југославије Савезу Русије и Белорусије: 25/1999-1 |trans-title=Decision on the accession of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia to the Alliance of Russia and Belarus: 25/1999-1 |issue=25 |date=12 April 1999 |publisher=Pravno informacioni sistem RS |location=Belgrade |access-date=22 January 2023}} The legal successor of that decision is the Republic of Serbia. In 2007, Speaker of Parliament Tomislav Nikolić said during a speech that he wished that Serbia would strengthen its ties with and eventually join the Union State rather than joining the European Union,{{Cite news|url=https://www.rferl.org/a/1076353.html|title=Serbian Parliament Speaker Calls For Closer Russia Ties|newspaper=Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty|date=2 February 2012 }} but he resigned from his position less than a week later. Although Nikolić did eventually serve as President of Serbia from 2012–2017, Serbia had submitted a membership application to the EU in 2009 and had received full candidate status in March 2012, prior to his term.

{{Supranational PostSoviet Bodies|size=400px|align=right}}

On 15 December 2006, talks over the Union State were heating up.{{cn|date=April 2023}} By January 2007, however, talks appeared to be stalled, as President Alexander Lukashenko of Belarus stated: "The Russian leadership is demanding that we join the Russian Federation—that's what is in the heads of the Russian leadership. I don't want to bury the sovereignty and independence of [Belarus]." He added: "From all the consultations and discussions, I have understood that we have different approaches and understandings of the building of a Union State", and opposed "the possibility of the incorporation into Russia [of Belarus]".[http://english.aljazeera.net/NR/exeres/16DA1999-33AD-4449-AFDF-74895C1A4FBD.htm "Belarus local elections end"] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070117012113/http://english.aljazeera.net/NR/exeres/16DA1999-33AD-4449-AFDF-74895C1A4FBD.htm |date=17 January 2007 }}, al Jazeera, 14 January 2007.

However, on 19 October 2007, Russian Prime Minister Viktor Zubkov announced that the budget of the Union State "will grow by no less than ten percent next year, and that growth will provide for worthy funding of our common projects."{{Cite web|url=http://www.itar-tass.com/eng/level2.html?NewsID=11987393&PageNum=0|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20090114195705/http://www.itar-tass.com/eng/level2.html?NewsID=11987393&PageNum=0|url-status=dead|title=Itar-Tass|archivedate=14 January 2009}} This has led to speculation that the Russian government have renewed their interest in the idea.

A meeting between President Lukashenko of Belarus, President Vladimir Putin of Russia and Union State Secretary Pavel Borodin was held in Minsk 13–14 December 2007. This meeting received a considerable amount of media attention and raised speculation that a Union State might indeed be the focus of a new initiative by both governments. Of primary interest was renewed discussion of the Union Parliament (which, although planned, was never actually realized) and a Union State Constitutional Act, an instrument which could strengthen the authority of the Union. According to State Secretary Borodin, five variants of this Act were discussed at the meeting, each of which would involve a 7 to 10 year transitional period in the Union's development. Trade and energy issues were also discussed.[http://www.president.gov.by/en/press37872.print.html President meets with State Secretary of the Belarus–Russia Union State ] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080612123235/http://www.president.gov.by/en/press37872.print.html |date=12 June 2008 }}

On 27 May 2008, President Lukashenko, acting in his capacity as Chairman of the Supreme State Council named then Russian Prime Minister and current President Putin Chairman of the Council of Ministers.Belarusian Telegraphy Agency, [https://www.nbcnews.com/id/wbna24839107 "Union State budget 2009 to total RUR6–7 billion, Pavel Borodin says"] This move raised speculation that the Union was about to undergo a significant political transformation. However, the most visible and arguably important official in the Union has been the State Secretary, who runs the Union State's day-to-day operations. In the same meeting, State Secretary Borodin announced that the 2009 Union State budget would total 6–7 billion roubles, an increase of over 2 billion roubles from 2008.

On 1 August 2011, Putin stated he supported a union of Russia, Belarus, and possibly South Ossetia.{{cite web |url=https://www.voanews.com/a/russian-pm-says-unification-with-belarus-possible-and-desirable--126555343/170796.html |title=Russian PM Says Unification With Belarus Possible and Desirable | publisher = Voice of America | date=1 August 2011 | access-date=28 August 2011 }} Belarusian Foreign Minister spokesman Andrei Savinykh rejected the idea,{{cite web | url=http://www.dw-world.de/dw/article/0,,15295158,00.html | title = Belarus rejects Putin's call for unification with Russia | publisher = Deutsche Welle | date=4 August 2011 | access-date=28 August 2011}} as did Dmitri Medojev, South Ossetia's ambassador to Moscow, who stated "Our people voted for independence in a referendum in 2006 and they do not relish the idea of becoming part of the Russian Federation."

Since 2015, focus on developing relations between former members of the Soviet Union is on continued development of the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU), itself a further development of the Eurasian Customs Union established in 2010. It is modelled on the integration of the European Union and comprises 5 member states: Belarus, Russia, Kazakhstan, Armenia and Kyrgyzstan. Tajikistan has also expressed an interest in joining.{{Citation needed|date=July 2023}} However, the EAEU is only an economic union, and at present, political integration remains within the remit of the Union State.

Deeper economic integration is proposed in 2021 within current talks of member states.{{Cite web|url=https://www.postkomsg.com/actual_comment/228106/|title=Александр Лукашенко Михаилу Мишустину: Времена нас подталкивают к тому, чтобы решать проблемы, которые у нас существуют|website=www.postkomsg.com}} In November 2021, Russia and Belarus signed an agreement to provide for common policies on taxation, banking, industry, agriculture, and energy.{{Cite news|url=https://www.rferl.org/a/putin-lukashenka-union-state/31546225.html |title=Putin, Lukashenka Agree To 28 Union State 'Programs' |website=Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty |date=4 November 2021 }}

Following the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine, part of which was staged from Belarus' territory, Russia and Belarus came under sanctions and boycotts. On 3 March, Belarusian president Alexander Lukashenko said he stood fully behind Russian president Vladimir Putin's campaign in Ukraine as part of Belarus's longstanding commitment to the Union State with Russia.{{cite news |date=3 July 2022 |title=Belarus leader stands with Russia in campaign |newspaper=Reuters |url=https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/belarus-leader-stands-with-russia-campaign-2022-07-03/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230214030607/https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/belarus-leader-stands-with-russia-campaign-2022-07-03/ |archive-date=14 February 2023}} On 14 March, Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin met with Belarusian Prime Minister Roman Golovchenko in Moscow, telling reporters that they "coordinated measures to protect our economic security and the technological sovereignty of Russia and Belarus" and "consider it necessary to strengthen integration in the Union State".{{cite news |date=14 March 2022 |title=Russia, Belarus ready to boost union state cooperation amid sanctions |newspaper=Reuters |url=https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/russian-pm-says-moscow-minsk-keen-boost-union-state-cooperation-amid-sanctions-2022-03-14/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221027221145/https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/russian-pm-says-moscow-minsk-keen-boost-union-state-cooperation-amid-sanctions-2022-03-14/ |archive-date=27 October 2022}} On 18 March, the Russian government announced that all restrictions on the movement of citizens between Russia and Belarus would be lifted.{{Cite web |date=19 March 2022 |title=Government meeting, 17 March 2022 |url=http://government.ru/en/news/44831 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230405110051/http://government.ru/en/news/44831/ |archive-date=5 April 2023 |website=Government.ru}} On 1 July 2022, Russian President Vladimir Putin announced that the "unification" process has been accelerated to alleviate the economic damage of the sanctions.{{cite web | url=https://www.newsweek.com/putin-russia-belarus-moving-towards-unification-western-sanctions-ukraine-war-1720985 | title=Putin says Russia and Belarus moving towards unification | website=Newsweek | date=July 2022 }}

In October 2022, following the September 2022 mobilisation of reservists in Russia, a contingent of approximately 9,000 Russian soldiers arrived in Belarus. According to the Belarusian ministry of defence the purpose of this deployment was to create a "regional military grouping" of the Union State.{{cite news |date=14 October 2022 |title=Russian Troops Expected To Arrive In Belarus In Days To Create 'Regional Military Group' |work=RFE/RL |url=https://www.rferl.org/a/belarus-russia-regional-military-group-troops/32083848.html |url-status=live |access-date=21 October 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221031191902/https://www.rferl.org/a/belarus-russia-regional-military-group-troops/32083848.html |archive-date=31 October 2022}} In the same month it was announced that Russian air forces were patrolling the borders of the Union State in Belarus.{{cite news |title=Russian air force patrols ally Belarus' borders |url=https://www.reuters.com/business/aerospace-defense/russian-air-force-patrols-ally-belarus-borders-2022-10-20/ |access-date=21 October 2022 |work=Reuters |date=20 October 2022}}

In an interview aired by Russia's state television in late May 2023, Lukashenko stated that other countries who were willing to join the Union State would be given nuclear weapons: "If someone is worried{{nbsp}}... (then) it is very simple: join in the Union State of Belarus and Russia. That's all: there will be nuclear weapons for everyone."{{cite news |date=29 May 2023 |title=Belarus's Lukashenko says there can be 'nuclear weapons for everyone' |work=Reuters |url=https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/belaruss-lukashenko-says-there-can-be-nuclear-weapons-everyone-2023-05-29/ |url-status=live |access-date=29 May 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230531123157/https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/belaruss-lukashenko-says-there-can-be-nuclear-weapons-everyone-2023-05-29/ |archive-date=31 May 2023}} This was just a few days after he had confirmed that the movement of some of Russia's tactical nuclear weapons to Belarus had begun and the Russian Defence Minister had said he was signing documents concerning the procedure for storing tactical nuclear weapons in Belarus,{{cite news |date=25 May 2023 |title=Russia moves ahead with deployment of tactical nukes in Belarus |work=Reuters |url=https://www.reuters.com/business/aerospace-defense/russia-belarus-sign-document-tactical-nuclear-weapon-deployment-belarus-2023-05-25/ |url-status=live |access-date=29 May 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230628085221/https://www.reuters.com/business/aerospace-defense/russia-belarus-sign-document-tactical-nuclear-weapon-deployment-belarus-2023-05-25/ |archive-date=28 June 2023}} the plan for which had first been announced by Putin in March.{{cite news |date=26 March 2023 |title=Putin says Moscow to place nuclear weapons in Belarus, US reacts cautiously |work=Reuters |url=https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/putin-says-moscow-has-deal-with-belarus-station-nuclear-weapons-there-tass-2023-03-25/ |url-status=live |access-date=29 May 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230404163558/https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/putin-says-moscow-has-deal-with-belarus-station-nuclear-weapons-there-tass-2023-03-25/ |archive-date=4 April 2023}}

On 6 December 2024, coinciding with the 25th anniversary of the Treaty on the Creation of the Union State, signed on December 9, 1999, at a meeting of the Supreme State Council of the Union State, the Russian President Vladimir Putin and his Belarusian counterpart Alexander Lukashenko expanded the defense and security cooperation between the two countries by signing the Russia-Belarus Treaty on security guarantees within the Union State.{{Cite web |date=2024-12-03 |title=Russia, Belarus to sign landmark security pact, Russian news agency says|url=https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/russia-belarus-sign-landmark-security-pact-russian-news-agency-says-2024-12-03/|access-date=2024-12-03 |website=www.reuters.com |language=English}}{{Cite web |date=2024-12-05 |title=Order on signing Russia-Belarus Treaty on security guarantees within the Union State|url=http://en.kremlin.ru/acts/news/75760|access-date=2024-12-06 |website=www.en.kremlin.ru |language=English}}{{Cite web |date=2024-12-06 |title=Russian, Belarusian leaders approve Union State security concept|url=https://tass.com/politics/1883541|access-date=2024-12-06 |website=www.tass.com |language=English}}{{Cite web |date=2024-12-06 |title=Meeting of the Supreme State Council of the Union State|url=http://en.kremlin.ru/events/president/news/75777|access-date=2024-12-06 |website=www.en.kremlin.ru |language=English}}

{{Columns-list|

• Commonwealth of Independent States
• Continental union
• 2007 Russia–Belarus energy dispute
• Post-Soviet states
• Soviet Union
• New Union Treaty
• Belarus–Russia relations
• Eurasian Economic Union
• Common Travel Area, an arrangement allowing for relatively open borders between the United Kingdom and Ireland
• 1950 Indo-Nepal Treaty of Peace and Friendship
• European Single Market, a similar zone{{citation needed|date=January 2023}} within the EU
• Trans-Tasman Travel Arrangement, a similar agreement{{citation needed|date=January 2023}} between Australia and New Zealand

}}

{{notelist}}

{{reflist|2}}

{{Commons category}}

• [https://soyuz.by/ Portal of the Union State] {{in lang|en|ru}}
• [http://www.soyuzinfo.ru/ Portal of the Union State] {{in lang|ru}}

{{Belarus topics}}

{{Commonwealth of Independent States}}

{{Eurasian Integration}}

{{Russia topics}}

{{Portal bar|Asia|Belarus|Europe|Russia}}

{{Authority control}}

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