“Restored Sovereignty” as the Basis of National Pride

... light. It is a complex view of the economic relationship with Russia that is shared by many in the former Soviet countries and was most clearly demonstrated in the discussions on the accession of several of these states to the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) or the signing of a Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Area agreement (DCFTA) with the European Union. And perception played a huge role here too: losing a measure of economic sovereignty to the European Union is not seen as a negative in these countries ...