Russia basically annexes Belarus

[Aureumterra]

https://www.uawire.org/russia-and-belar ... overnment#

Belarusian Ambassador to Russia Vladimir Semashko said that Russian President Vladimir Putin and Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko agreed to create a joint Parliament and government as part of the Union State.

"The presidents agreed that the stated goals are ambitious, and they should not change. These goals include the transition to unified tax legislation, the creation of common markets for oil, gas, and electricity, the creation of a single Parliament and government with executive authority when independent Russia and Belarus give up certain governing functions. This task is now being solved," said Semashko, as cited by Reformation news outlet.

According to Semashko, now the roadmaps for integration into the Union state are being developed. 20 of the 31 road maps have already been agreed upon. Other roadmaps should be ready within one week.

The Union State is a supranational union of Russia and Belarus with the organization of a single political, economic, military, customs, currency, legal, humanitarian, and cultural space.

Basically the presidents of both countries agreed to finally form the “union state” which has technically been in effect for 20 years, but this is the first time both countries jointly agreed to form the united parliament. This is suspicious since Belarusian president Alyaksandr Lukashenka’s entire geopolitical game was balancing the West with Russia, but after recent talks with Putin, he suddenly changed his mind and agreed to go ahead with the union state. So NSG, what do you think is Putin’s endgame?

I think this is Putin’s next card up his sleeve to create a wannabe USSR. Putin surged in domestic popularity after the annexation of Crimea, but his popularity has been declining ever since. He’s expected to surge in popularity again and likely win the next presidential elections fair and square with this move, so this is also a move to stay in power for him IMO.

[Gormwood]

Probably going for all the former satellites.

[Vistulange]

The sheer disparity between the economic and military power of Russia and Belarus aside, I don't see how this is particularly different from the European Union, though with two states.

Of course, if it is like the European Union structure-wise, the aforementioned inequality of power is certainly going to make it, in practice, what the title says.

[GlobalControl]

Probably wants to form a wannabe USSR, but it's hard to say I guess.
I don't live in Belarus or Russia, and I don't pay that much attention to Eastern European politics.

[The Democratic Nation of Unovia]

I am not anti Russia, better than the USSR, but this is a concerning move. Hate to think domino theory here, but I can see European dominoes being lined up and soon all of Eastern Europe will be back in Putin's hands.
Sounds like a replay of the 1980's. Not good for the people of Belarus.

[Aureumterra]

The sheer disparity between the economic and military power of Russia and Belarus aside, I don't see how this is particularly different from the European Union, though with two states.

Of course, if it is like the European Union structure-wise, the aforementioned inequality of power is certainly going to make it, in practice, what the title says.

Knowing Putin, I’d say he has other interests in mind

[Aureumterra]

I am not anti Russia, better than the USSR, but this is a concerning move. Hate to think domino theory here, but I can see European dominoes being lined up and soon all of Eastern Europe will be back in Putin's hands.
Sounds like a replay of the 1980's. Not good for the people of Belarus.

The Baltic states were smart, they immediately went and joined NATO, so they have a big bad Uncle Sam shielding them from the great bear

[Ostroeuropa]

I don't actually care. Belarus is pro-Russia and its populace supports the union. Self-determination and stuff. The other former soviet states are more of a concern.

[Rojava Free State]

I am not anti Russia, better than the USSR, but this is a concerning move. Hate to think domino theory here, but I can see European dominoes being lined up and soon all of Eastern Europe will be back in Putin's hands.
Sounds like a replay of the 1980's. Not good for the people of Belarus.

The Baltic states were smart, they immediately went and joined NATO, so they have a big bad Uncle Sam shielding them from the great bear

Which btw we promised Russia we would never do, which is part of the reason we aren't on the best of terms with them today. Russia probably feels the same way about NATO countries bordering them as we would about a Russian ally bordering us

[Rojava Free State]

Yeah remember all that bullshit you've probably heard if you're American about Ronald Reagan freeing Eastern Europe from Orientalist Despotism? Yeah that was a lie

[Greed and Death]

Belarus has been wanting to join with Russia for decades largely because independence has been extremely painful for them. The Soviets created interdependent economies among the Republics but unlike other former Soviet Republics Belarus has not been able to find its own niche in the global market and they were by and large an economy based on having Russian troops present during the cold war. With Poland growing hostile and some of Poland's eastern areas looking like tempting annexation targets Belarus looks to capitalize on being a Russian military base.

[Chan Island]

Are we surprised? I’m not.

[Aureumterra]

Belarus has been wanting to join with Russia for decades largely because independence has been extremely painful for them. The Soviets created interdependent economies among the Republics but unlike other former Soviet Republics Belarus has not been able to find its own niche in the global market and they were by and large an economy based on having Russian troops present during the cold war. With Poland growing hostile and some of Poland's eastern areas looking like tempting annexation targets Belarus looks to capitalize on being a Russian military base.

We all know how effective the EU is at defending its members and allies from Russia

Ukraine cries

[Nakena]

Belarus has been wanting to join with Russia for decades largely because independence has been extremely painful for them. The Soviets created interdependent economies among the Republics but unlike other former Soviet Republics Belarus has not been able to find its own niche in the global market and they were by and large an economy based on having Russian troops present during the cold war. With Poland growing hostile and some of Poland's eastern areas looking like tempting annexation targets Belarus looks to capitalize on being a Russian military base.

We all know how effective the EU is at defending its members and allies from Russia

Ukraine cries

Attempting to get Ukraine into the Eurosphere was from the beginning onwards a futile attempt of self-delusion, however noble the intention.

[Aureumterra]

Yeah remember all that bullshit you've probably heard if you're American about Ronald Reagan freeing Eastern Europe from Orientalist Despotism? Yeah that was a lie

They teach it like that?! Word for word?

[Gormwood]

Mikhail Gorbachev warns Russia and US must avoid 'hot war'

Wait, Gorbachev is (currently) still alive?

[Valrifell]

Mikhail Gorbachev warns Russia and US must avoid 'hot war'

Wait, Gorbachev is (currently) still alive?

That's what I said when I read the same article.

[Nakena]

Mikhail Gorbachev warns Russia and US must avoid 'hot war'

Wait, Gorbachev is (currently) still alive?

He's holding out. Funny to think that if the Soviet Union be still a thing, he'd might be still be General Secretary / President for that matter.

[Purpelia]

So basically Russia and Belarus have founded the equivalent of what the EU wants to achieve. And somehow this is evil because it's Russia and not Germany doing it. News.

I mean seriously. Common market, a joined parliament that has more power than the separate governments that give up some power. This is basically what the EU is today.

[Xuloqoia]

Yeah remember all that bullshit you've probably heard if you're American about Ronald Reagan freeing Eastern Europe from Orientalist Despotism? Yeah that was a lie

They teach it like that?! Word for word?

They don't, at least in my experience.

[Great Aletia]

The sheer disparity between the economic and military power of Russia and Belarus aside, I don't see how this is particularly different from the European Union, though with two states.

Of course, if it is like the European Union structure-wise, the aforementioned inequality of power is certainly going to make it, in practice, what the title says.

I imagine Belarus will see a lot of investment from Russia. It's good for Russia as well because of the demographic increase. Belarus also gets access to Russia's new equipment. I imagine Kazakhstan may be next. Kazakhstan has a large Russian population has always been very close to Russia. Ukraine is disputed at the moment, but it's obvious to see that Russia was planning to include it in the union.

[Aureumterra]

So basically Russia and Belarus have founded the equivalent of what the EU wants to achieve. And somehow this is evil because it's Russia and not Germany doing it. News.

I mean seriously. Common market, a joined parliament that has more power than the separate governments that give up some power. This is basically what the EU is today.

Except Russia will be overrepresented

[Salus Maior]

So basically Russia and Belarus have founded the equivalent of what the EU wants to achieve. And somehow this is evil because it's Russia and not Germany doing it. News.

I mean seriously. Common market, a joined parliament that has more power than the separate governments that give up some power. This is basically what the EU is today.

Except Russia will be overrepresented

There's not much difference between Belarussians and Russians, their language is similar (if not basically the same), their traditional religion is the same (Eastern Orthodoxy), and Belarussians and Russians share most of the same history.

This is like Texas entering the U.S in terms of ethnic difference.

[Kowani]

-Stalin laughs from the grave-

[Psukhe]

Except Russia will be overrepresented

their language is similar (if not basically the same)

It very much isn't the same.