 "In this pool photograph distributed by the Russian state agency Sputnik, Russia's President Vladimir Putin holds his annual end-of-year press conference in Moscow on December 19, 2025. - AFP")
Russian President Vladimir Putin pointed to close security cooperation among Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) countries, even as Moscow’s ties with Europe remain strained over the war in Ukraine. Speaking at an informal CIS summit in St. Petersburg, Putin focused on regional unity on shared threats such as terrorism, drug trafficking and corruption, as reported by Russia news agency, Tass.
His remarks come at a time when Russia is increasingly leaning on partnerships within the post-Soviet space, even as its ties with Western nations remain tense.
‘Key area of cooperation’
Addressing leaders and officials at the summit, Putin said security agencies across CIS countries remain closely connected. “The fight against terrorism and extremism, organised crime, drug trafficking and corruption remains a key area of cooperation between Commonwealth states,” the Russian president noted.
He added that practical coordination between agencies was already well established. “Close operative contacts between security agencies and competent bodies have been established for these purposes,” Putin said, stressing that cooperation was ongoing rather than symbolic.
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Action plans already underway
Putin also pointed to concrete frameworks that CIS countries are currently putting into action. “An action plan in the anti-terrorist sphere until 2028 and a CIS outer border control plan until 2030 are currently being implemented,” he shared.
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View AllThese long-term plans, he suggested, demonstrate a collective commitment among CIS members to address cross-border threats that no single country can manage alone.
The spotlight on unity and coordination comes as Russia continues to face diplomatic isolation from much of Europe due to the ongoing war in Ukraine.
Analysts say highlighting cooperation within the CIS allows Moscow to project an image of stability and influence in its immediate neighbourhood, even as tensions persist with Western governments.
By focusing on shared security priorities such as terrorism and organized crime, Putin appears keen to show that cooperation within the CIS remains strong and functional, regardless of broader geopolitical pressures.