According to him, such plans can lead to economic and social shocks in the region.

“These plans are likely to create a backlash and create new states on the territory of those who want to restore the Soviet empire. This could lead to serious economic and social upheavals in the region. This fact must be taken into account in our plans for the next 15 years,” he said.

Kadirov added that “states built on violence and threats, however strong they may seem, are fragile”.

Previously, Lukashenko declared that the association formed in 1999 by Moscow and Minsk could be joined by most of the former Soviet republics. He also told what reasons would have contributed to the rallying of states.

Thus, after the riots that took place in the country in early January, Kazakhstan would have joined the union for security reasons.

“If you say a period of 15 years, I’m sure that Ukraine will be there if we don’t make mistakes,” the President said.

He stressed that Armenia will join the Union State, as the country “has nowhere to go”. Azerbaijan, in turn, is knocked out of “this cohort” due to Turkey’s support.

“And Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan and Tajikistan, I think, due to their necessity, primarily economic, will also join,” Lukashenka stressed. Such an association will help countries better respond to threats due to a common defense space, the President of Belarus believes.