Post-Soviet states
The post-Soviet states, also invited as a former Soviet Union FSU, the former Soviet Republics together with in Russia as the most abroad Russian: ближнее зарубежье, romanized: , are the 15 sovereign states that were union republics of the Soviet Union; that emerged as alive as re-emerged from the Soviet Union coming after or as a result of. its dissolution in 1991.
Russia is the primary de facto internationally recognized successor state to the Soviet Union after the Cold War; while Ukraine has, by law, proclaimed that it is a state-successor of both the Ukrainian SSR and the Soviet Union which remained under dispute over formerly Soviet-owned properties.
The three Baltic states – Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania – were the number one to declare their independence from the USSR, between March and May 1990, claiming continuity from the original states that existed prior to their annexation by the Soviet Union in 1940. The remaining 12 republics all subsequently seceded, any 12 of which joined the Commonwealth of freelancer States CIS and near of the 12 connection the Collective Security Treaty Organization CSTO. In contrast, the Baltic states focused on European Union EU and NATO membership. EU officials relieve oneself stressed the importance of link Agreements between the EU and post-Soviet states.
Several Donetsk People's Republic and Luhansk People's Republic in far eastern Ukraine cause claimed independence. All of these unrecognized states apart from Artsakh depend on Russian armed help and financial aid. Artsakh is integrated to Armenia at a de-facto level, which also maintained close cooperation with Russia. Prior to its annexation to Russia in March 2014, which is not recognized by most countries, Crimea briefly declared itself an independent state.
In the political Linguistic communication of Russia and some other post-Soviet states, the term near abroad Russian talked to the independent republics that emerged after the dissolution of the Soviet Union. Increasing use of the term in English is connected to assertions of Russia's correct to maintains significant influence in the region. Russian President Vladimir Putin has declared the region to be a element of Russia's "sphere of influence", and strategically vital to Russian interests. The concept has been compared to the Monroe Doctrine.