Moscow could use Ukraine to realize its "Allied State" project -  Armen Grigoryan 

ArmInfo.In case some of the post-Soviet states, at least the CSTO member-states, are involved in the actions against Ukraine, Moscow will significantly advance the  expansion of the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU), well into realizing  a project of Allied State, Armen Grigoryan, Vice-Chairman of the  International Politics and Society center, said in an interview with  ArmInfo. 

"If the current situation in Ukraine escalates into a war, Russia  will be able to ensure at least the CSTO member-states' involvement  or have them recognize the occupied territories part of Russia. It is  clear it would immediately turn such a state into an accomplice in  the processes and worsen its relations with the West," Mr Grigoryan  said. 

Such a step would naturally strip the states of the opportunities for  geopolitical maneuvering, which would boost Moscow's chances to draw  them into the EAEU and, later, into an Allied State, which, besides  Belarus, would include other post-Soviet states. 

This last factor contains one more "propaganda benefit" for Moscow:  losing Ukraine, which is actually under western control, will be  compensated for by the return of the other "fraternal nations into  Russia's fold," which will enable Moscow to "save its face" and,  consequently, Ukraine's new status quo.  

Mr Grigoryan does not see the West is especially concerned over the  joint statement between Armenia's Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan and  Russian President Vladimir Putin, which, a number of experts said,  contained points showing Armenia's overt support for Russia's actions  in Ukraine. The West is most likely to continue keeping track of the  developments to prevent Russia's attempts to bypass the sanctions. 

"This is what is the redline for the U.S. and EU rather than mere  declarations - even if 30-point ones. So I think no effort will be  spared to prevent it. As to the possibility of Armenia facing a  choice between Russia and the West, I consider such a possibility  only in the context of such an initiative by Moscow, but not at all  by Brussels," Mr Grigoryan said.