western and southern rim of Russia
ENERGY AND PRIDEThere is no real incentive for Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan or Azerbaijan — each with vast oil and gas resources, each with authoritarian leaders — to enter a union with former imperial master Russia any time soon.At various times during their independence, these emerging energy giants have infuriated Moscow by courting the West and China, beats by dre securing billions of dollars in investment in return for promises of mineral riches.National pride also stands in the way of closer integration. Ukraine, the most populous ex-Soviet republic after Russia, relies heavily…
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