The St. Petersburg Summit Highlights Eurasian Economic Integration

The Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) signed several key agreements at its St. Petersburg Summit, reshaping the geopolitical landscape of Eurasia through a dual narrative of economic integration and diplomatic ceremonies.

On December 21, 2025, St. Petersburg, Russia, hosted a major Eurasian multilateral diplomatic event. The EAEU Summit was held there, and Russian President Vladimir Putin presented the Tolstoy Peace Prize to the presidents of Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, and Kyrgyzstan, a ceremony described by the Kremlin as "a very important award."

This award ceremony was merely a tidbit in the broader narrative. On the same day, the EAEU signed a free trade agreement with Indonesia, projecting a doubling of trade within three to five years.

At the summit, Putin declared that the EAEU had become "an independent and self-sufficient center in a multipolar world."

01 Economic Integration: Pragmatic Advancement of Regional Integration

The core achievements of the St. Petersburg Summit were reflected in the economic sphere. The signing of the free trade agreement between the EAEU and Indonesia marked a significant breakthrough in the EAEU's Asia-Pacific strategy. According to Andrei Slepneov, Trade Minister of the Eurasian Economic Commission, after the free trade agreement takes effect, the average tariff rate on goods imported by Indonesia from the Eurasian Economic Union will decrease from 10.2% to 2%.

This agreement will significantly increase the volume of industrial and agricultural exports from member states to Indonesia.

During the summit, Putin noted that "an increasing number of countries and multilateral institutions have expressed their willingness to establish cooperative relations with our Union." In addition to the agreement with Indonesia, a free trade agreement with Iran has already taken effect, trade agreements with the UAE and Mongolia have been signed, and a free trade agreement with India is actively underway.

Significant progress has also been made in intra-regional cooperation. Putin specifically praised Kyrgyzstan for its GDP growth exceeding 10%, making it the "champion" within the Union. These economic achievements demonstrate the practical effectiveness of the Eurasian Economic Union as a platform for regional economic cooperation.

Belarus, as the rotating chair, called for the development of a five-year roadmap for foreign economic cooperation, targeting "most countries in the world." Although internal disagreements remain on issues such as unified energy and financial markets, the momentum for economic integration has clearly strengthened.

02 Strategic Layout: Geopolitical Considerations in Eurasia

Putin employed a dual approach of economic and symbolic means at this summit. He presented symbolic peace awards while simultaneously forging a close economic and trade network. This "combination punch" clearly aims to consolidate the Russian-led Eurasian integration process.

The Eurasian Economic Union has established a stable payment infrastructure unaffected by external influences. Putin emphasized that the Union has eliminated numerous trade barriers and strengthened coordination in customs and tax policies. This move helps reduce dependence on the Western-dominated financial system.

The free trade agreement with Iran has come into effect, and trade agreements with the UAE and Mongolia have been signed. These agreements demonstrate that the Eurasian Economic Union is actively expanding its cooperative relations with key regional and global countries.

Simultaneously, Russia is also actively responding to the expanding influence of other major powers in the region. Some analysts suggest that Putin, through this summit and the consensus reached, aims to consolidate Russia's relations with Central Asia and the CIS countries.

03 Institutional Framework: The Organizational Development of the Eurasian Economic Union

The Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) was established in 2015 and currently comprises Russia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Armenia, and Kyrgyzstan. The EAEU has developed a relatively complete institutional framework, with the Supreme Council of the Eurasian Economic Commission serving as its highest governing body.

This summit confirmed that Kazakhstan will assume the rotating presidency of the EAEU in 2026. This rotating presidency mechanism reflects the equal rights of member states within the EAEU.

Observer states include Uzbekistan, Cuba, and Moldova. This observer state system provides greater flexibility for more countries to cooperate with the EAEU. The acceptance of the Tolstoy Peace Prize by the presidents of Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, and Kyrgyzstan also foreshadows the possible future direction of these countries' relations with the EAEU.

The EAEU continues to advance its integration process, planning to achieve full free movement of goods, services, capital, and labor by 2025. Although member states maintain independent monetary policies and explicitly do not pursue a unified currency system, substantial progress has been made in areas such as a unified electricity market.

04 Global Perspective: Eurasia as a Center in a Multipolar World

Putin's remarks at the summit clearly pointed to a vision of a multipolar world order. He declared that the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) has become "one of the independent and self-sufficient centers in a multipolar world" and will continue to develop. This positioning reflects the trend of restructuring in the emerging global order.

The strategic importance of the EAEU lies in its role as a bridge connecting Europe and Asia. With the signing of free trade agreements between the EAEU and ASEAN countries such as Indonesia, its role as an economic link across Eurasia is becoming increasingly prominent.

Simultaneously, the EAEU is actively promoting alignment with the Belt and Road Initiative. In 2018, China and the EAEU formally signed a trade and economic cooperation agreement. This cooperation helps to form an economic cooperation network covering the entire Eurasian continent.

Russian President Putin stated: "The EAEU actively cooperates with major international organizations such as BRICS, the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation, ASEAN, and the Gulf Cooperation Council." This interaction within multilateral cooperation frameworks is forming a new model of regionalism that may have a profound impact on the global governance system.

The true significance of this St. Petersburg summit may lie in the fact that the member states of the Eurasian Economic Union have agreed to transfer the 2026 rotating presidency to Kazakhstan, indicating that this regional cooperation mechanism has established a stable institutional cycle.

With the signing of the free trade agreement with Indonesia, the awarding of the Tolstoy Peace Prize, and the establishment of an independent payment system, the Eurasian Economic Union is seeking its place within Putin's blueprint for a "multipolar world."

The future integration process of Eurasia depends not only on Russia's strategic layout but also on how the member states of the union achieve a balance between regional cooperation and global competition.