Editing Union State (section)

==Developments==
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.<ref>{{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 }}</ref>

===Common currency===
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 Prakapovich|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 [[Fixed exchange rate system|pegged]] to the [[United States dollar]] instead of the [[Russian ruble]].<ref>{{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 }}</ref>{{Needs update|date=July 2023|reason=Is the Belarusian ruble still pegged to the USD? If not, why?}}

===Citizenship and freedom of migration===

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.<ref>{{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}}</ref> 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.

===Military===
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.<ref>{{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 }}</ref> 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".<ref>{{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 }}</ref> 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.<ref>{{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}}</ref><ref>{{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}}</ref> The accord entered into force on 13 March 2025.<ref>{{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}}</ref>

=== Proposed symbols ===
[[File:Flag of the Union State.svg|thumb|Proposed flag of the Union State]]
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.<ref name="Geraldika.ru" /><ref name="vexillographia.ru">{{cite web |url=http://www.vexillographia.ru/belarus/union.htm |title=флаги союза РФ и РБ |website=vexillographia.ru }}</ref>

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 [[red star|gold stars]] are placed in the canton of the red flag (to represent the two states of the Union).<ref name="vexillographia.ru"/>

A proposed coat of arms is a modification of the [[double-headed eagle]] holding the coats of arms of Russia and Belarus.<ref name="Geraldika.ru">{{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}}</ref>

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.<ref>{{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 }}</ref>

===Value-added tax controversy===
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.

===Contemplated expansion===
[[File:Commonwealth of Independent States Union of Russia and Belarus.svg|thumb|upright=1.5|The Union State (yellow), states that have expressed interest in joining the Union (green), and other members of the [[Commonwealth of Independent States|CIS]] (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.<ref>{{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}}</ref>
*{{flag|Armenia}}: Several political parties including the [[Constitutional Rights Union]],<ref>{{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}}</ref> [[National Unity (Armenia)|National Unity]],<ref>{{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}}</ref> and the [[Towards Russia Party]]<ref>{{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}}</ref> 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 [[Armenian Communist Party|Communist Party]] [[Vardan Ghukasyan]] supported joining the Union State.<ref>{{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]]}}</ref>
*{{flag|Kazakhstan}} had expressed interest in forming a separate customs union with Russia and Belarus by 2010.<ref name="gtk.gov.by">{{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 }}</ref> 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."<ref name="gtk.gov.by"/><ref>{{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}}</ref>
*{{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.<ref>{{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}}</ref>
*{{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.<ref>{{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]] }}</ref><ref>{{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 }}</ref> 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, 2006|Transnistrian referendum of 2006]], the government said 97.2% of the population voted for [[Proposed Russian annexation of Transnistria|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.<ref>{{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 Oblast|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 }}</ref> 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.<ref>{{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 }}</ref> 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.<ref>{{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}}</ref> Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2022 in an escalation of the [[Russo-Ukrainian War]] that continues today.
*{{flag|Novorossiya|state}}: During the [[Russian military intervention in Ukraine (2014–present)|2014 Russian military intervention in Ukraine]], Deputy Prime Minister [[Rustam Temirgaliev]] of the Russian-annexed [[Republic of Crimea (Russia)|Republic of Crimea]] expressed the hope that southeastern Ukraine would form a "Ukrainian Federation" and join the Union State.<ref>{{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 }}</ref> However, only the self-proclaimed [[Donetsk People's Republic]] and [[Luhansk People's Republic]] broke away from Ukraine, and the confederate [[Novorossiya (confederation)|Novorossiya]] political project was frozen at the start of 2015.<ref name="utenrp">{{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 }}</ref><ref>{{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}}</ref><ref>{{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 }}</ref>
*{{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.<ref>{{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}}</ref> 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,<ref>{{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 }}</ref> 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 [[Accession of Serbia to the European Union|membership application]] to the EU in 2009 and had received full candidate status in March 2012, prior to his term.

===Renewed interest===
{{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]".<ref>[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 English|al Jazeera]]'', 14 January 2007.</ref>

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."<ref>{{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<!-- Bot generated title -->|archivedate=14 January 2009}}</ref> 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.<ref>[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 }}</ref>

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.<ref>Belarusian Telegraphy Agency, [https://www.nbcnews.com/id/wbna24839107 "Union State budget 2009 to total RUR6–7 billion, Pavel Borodin says"]</ref> 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 [[Russian rouble|rouble]]s, 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.<ref name=2011a>{{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 }}</ref> Belarusian Foreign Minister spokesman [[Andrei Savinykh]] rejected the idea,<ref name=2011b>{{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}}</ref> as did [[Dmitri Medojev]], South Ossetia's ambassador to Moscow, who stated "Our people voted for independence in a [[South Ossetian independence referendum, 2006|referendum in 2006]] and they do not relish the idea of becoming part of the Russian Federation."<ref name=2011b />

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 [[Customs Union of the Eurasian Economic Union|Eurasian Customs Union]] established in 2010. It is modelled on the integration of the [[European integration|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.<ref>{{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}}</ref> In November 2021, Russia and Belarus signed an agreement to provide for common policies on taxation, banking, industry, agriculture, and energy.<ref>{{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 }}</ref>

====2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine====
Following the [[Russian invasion of Ukraine|2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine]], part of which was staged from Belarus' territory, Russia and Belarus came under [[International sanctions during the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine|sanctions]] and [[2022 boycott of Russia and Belarus|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.<ref>{{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}}</ref> 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".<ref>{{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}}</ref> On 18 March, the Russian government announced that all restrictions on the movement of citizens between Russia and Belarus would be lifted.<ref>{{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}}</ref> On 1 July 2022, Russian President Vladimir Putin announced that the "unification" process has been accelerated to alleviate the economic damage of the sanctions.<ref>{{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 }}</ref>

In October 2022, following the [[2022 Russian mobilization|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.<ref name="RFE/RL October 2022">{{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}}</ref> In the same month it was announced that Russian air forces were patrolling the borders of the Union State in Belarus.<ref name="Reuters October 2022">{{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}}</ref>

====2023 nuclear deterrence====
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."<ref>{{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}}</ref> 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,<ref>{{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}}</ref> the plan for which had first been announced by Putin in March.<ref>{{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}}</ref>

====25th anniversary of the Treaty on the Creation of the Union State====
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.<ref>{{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}}</ref><ref>{{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}}</ref><ref>{{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}}</ref><ref>{{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}}</ref>