Opravy

There is no doubt that the events in Ukraine and over it have had a huge impact on post-Soviet space.

However, Ukrainian crisis has not had a strong material influence on the balance of power in the region.

Not including Ukraine, the whole sphere of influence of the great powers in this part of world remains the same.

The specific set of tasks needed to be performed to achieve the above mentioned objective includes the following: • To scrutinize the possible impact of the Ukraine crisis on Russia’s relations with the selected CIS countries • To find out the purpose of regional integration of the CIS countries • To carefully explore the Ukraine crisis impact on the image of Russia in the Baltic States • To analyze the integration sentiments in post-Soviet countries • To investigate the alignment of forces in region To gain the deeper insight to the topic I analyzed official governmental statements, treaties and agreements.

I also studied relevant literature (it includes academic publications and monographs, as well as analytical articles from different internet databases and websites) On the basis of comprehensive analyses I collected the necessary facts, and came to the following conclusions: • those countries which have chosen the path of euro-integration before the crisis (for example, Georgia and Moldova) adhere closely to that decision.

Russia’s friends and allies, in their turn, have become careful about more intensive integration with Russia (Belarus and Kazakhstan presidents in their speeches often say that the EAEC is a completely economic project, not political.

Moreover, in October last year Kazakhstan signed a new extended agreement on partnership and cooperation with the European Union) • The crisis in Ukraine has had a negative impact on the image of Russia in the Baltic countries.

After the collapse of the Soviet Union, these countries have a kind of "historical phobia" about the loss of sovereignty.

• Ukrainian crisis shows that CIS is not able to solve problems in the region and ensure compliance with its basic principles (territorial integrity, inviolability of borders)