DISINFO: EU uses CIS to contain Russia by all means: financial, economic, military
SUMMARY
The EU uses the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) to contain Russia. All means are used - from financial and economic to military ones. By granting Ukraine and Moldova the status of candidates, the Union confirmed that it continues the line of active geopolitical exploration of the Commonwealth space.
RESPONSE
This is a mix of several recurring pro-Kremlin disinformation narratives about belligerent West trying to encircle Russia, to divide post-Soviet countries and to isolate Russia.
As for the relations of the EU and CIS countries, they are based on mutual consent, bilateral interests and benefits. More, they are not directed against third parties. For example, the Eastern Partnership (EaP) is a joint policy initiative that aims to deepen and strengthen relations between the European Union (EU) and its Eastern neighbours: Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Moldova and Ukraine. Belarus has suspended its participation as of June 2021.
The EU recognises the strategic importance of Central Asia, which links the huge Asian continent with Europe. As the EU is working to make relations with Central Asia stronger and deeper, the European Union’s engagement with Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Turkmenistan has developed significantly since the countries' independence following the dissolution of the Soviet Union in 1991.
The EU does not impose any action or programme on the partner countries. The overall aim of cooperation is to build a common area of shared democracy, prosperity and stability in line with each individual country's aspirations. Involvement in the EU initiatives does not exclude membership in the Eurasian Economic Union, CIS or CSTO.
After the annexation of Crimea to Russia 2014, the National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine decided to terminate Ukraine's chairmanship in the CIS, and started the process of completely ending its participation in the structures of the CIS. In 2019 Ukraine actually completed its withdrawal from CIS. Ukraine began intensive denunciation of various agreements with the CIS due to European integration and the process of accession of Ukraine to the European Union. On 28 February 2022, shortly after it was invaded by Russia, Ukraine applied for membership of the European Union.
After Russia's invasion of Ukraine, Moldova is considering whether to continue being a member of the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) amid Russia's armed aggression against Ukraine. Moldova applied for membership in the European Union in March.
In June 2022 EC granted EU candidate status to Ukraine and Moldova