Former Soviet Sphere Divided on Moscow

Written by Ash Breedlove | September 17, 2023

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Finland recently joined Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania in banning vehicles with Russian license plates from entering their respective territories. This measure reflects the sanctions imposed by the European Union against Moscow. Finland officially put the ban in place on Friday, September 15. In Lithuania, Russian citizens will only be able to access Kaliningrad by train. While former USSR Baltic states are the most vocal in opposing Russia, Belarus is still essentially a vassal.  

Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko said last Friday, September 15, that Minsk could join Moscow’s alliance talks with Pyongyang. Whether or not Putin will let Lukashenko have his wish is uncertain, however, the Russian leader still relies on Belarusian hospitality to send troops into Ukraine. Lukashenko has assured the world Belarus will not join the fighting but remains Russia’s only stalwart ally in Eastern Europe.