Russian President Vladimir Putin on his May 26-27 visit to Tashkent stressed potential mutual gains that would stem from Uzbekistan joining the Moscow-led Eurasian Economic Union (EEU), but also emphasized that a decision to accede can only ultimately stem from the sovereign will of the Central Asian country, reported TASS.

Speaking to reporters at the conclusion of his state visit, Putin underlined the importance of respecting each nation's economic and financial sovereignty in decisions on regional integration.

"We have different levels of economic development, different levels of financial systems development, and when a certain government decides on whether to participate or not in certain associations of integration, this is what they [such decisions] are primarily based on," Putin remarked.

The EEU groups the post-Soviet countries of Russia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Belarus and Armenia, which in 2023 had a combined GDP of around $2.4 trillion and populations amounting to 183mn people. The 10^th anniversary of the Treaty on the EEU taking effect will fall on January 1, 2025. The original signatories were Russia, Kazakhstan and Belarus. The accession treaties of Kyrgyzstan and Armenia were signed a little later than those of the founding trio. Russia was ambitious at the outset for the EEU to group more than five nations but, for instance, Uzbekistan, has never moved beyond the observer status it took in 2020. Tashkent has always been seen as hesitant when it comes to the question of expressing a commitment to one day join the EEU. It pursues a multi-vector foreign policy and China has replaced Russia as its main trade partner, though Russia is intent on driving up trade with Uzbekistan in coming years.

Putin said: "If such an economy as Uzbekistan joins the association, I believe the association will only benefit from it. I think Uzbekistan's economy also needs to win," Putin said, adding: "Whether to participate or not—this is the choice of any sovereign state."

Putin highlighted the substantial representation of Russia during his visit, with nearly half of the Russian government and all key ministers participating.

"When both heads of regions and two governments from both sides gathered, certainly, the exchange of information, the exchange of opportunities to develop cooperation was very rich," Putin added. "The point is not even in the number of signed documents, the point is in live communication among people that want to work together and see how to do this," he concluded.