Russia open to broader CIS cooperation as Ukraine, Moldova align with West Deputy FM says

Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Galuzin has said that Ukraine and Moldova’s waning interest in developing relations with Russia stems from their decision to transfer a significant portion of their sovereignty to the West.

As Caliber.Az reports, citing Russian media, his remarks came during the presentation of the Valdai Club report titled “Russia and Its Neighbours: Mutual Responsibility and Co-Development.”

Galuzin emphasized that, aside from Ukraine and Moldova, other countries of the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) demonstrate a “deep and growing interest” in expanding cooperation with Russia at both the national and regional levels. He noted that while post-Soviet states maintain their own foreign policy priorities, they generally seek to leverage ties with Russia for socio-economic growth and to strengthen their positions on the international stage.

“Russia also has a reciprocal interest in the comprehensive development of relations with CIS countries,” Galuzin added, highlighting Moscow’s commitment to broad cooperation across the region.

As an example, he pointed to the education sector, where there is increasing demand—particularly in Central Asian countries—for Russian university branches and schools operating under Russian curricula and standards.

“This interest exists, it is real and objective, and it is conditioned by the fact that these states indeed link many of their national development plans with Russia. We are open here to the broadest possible cooperation,” the deputy minister said, underlining Russia’s willingness to support and deepen these partnerships.

By Vafa Guliyeva