Emerging
May 26, 20261
CIS chief says Moldova withdrawal process has begun, notes Armenia and Ukraine positions
CIS Secretary General Sergey Lebedev said Moldova’s withdrawal process from key Commonwealth agreements has begun, while Ukraine remains a formal member and Armenia still belongs to the bloc despite its pro-EU course. He made the remarks at a Moscow event marking 35 years of the CIS.
Lebedev also portrayed Russia as increasingly central to the organisation and said the CIS remains relevant as a political and economic grouping.
Quick Facts
- Commented on Ukraine's CIS membership
- Said Moldova's withdrawal procedure from CIS agreements has begun
- Noted Armenia's plan to integrate into the European Union
- Described Russia as central to the CIS
- Spoke at a roundtable marking 35 years of the CIS
The Commonwealth of Independent States cannot ignore Armenia’s stated intention to deepen integration with the European Union, CIS Secretary General Sergey Lebedev said at a Moscow roundtable marking 35 years of the bloc. He said Armenia remains a member of the CIS, as well as the Collective Security Treaty Organization and the Eurasian Economic Union, despite its leadership’s pro-EU position.
Lebedev also said Ukraine is still formally part of the CIS and has not applied to leave the organisation. On Moldova, he said the CIS Executive Committee had received official notification from Chisinau that it was withdrawing from the Commonwealth’s founding agreements and that the exit procedure had been launched.
According to Lebedev, the process will take a year, although Moldova has said it wants to remain involved in the CIS’s economic cooperation. He linked the situation in the region to what he described as pressure from external actors and wider efforts to weaken the Commonwealth through political upheaval.
Lebedev said Russia’s role within the CIS remains central and argued that the organisation is still relevant after 35 years because it combines shared interests with the national priorities of its members. He described the bloc as a mutually beneficial political and economic structure and said its future is difficult to imagine without Russia.
Why This Matters
The remarks highlight the continuing fragmentation of post-Soviet regional institutions and signal where political alignment may be shifting next. For readers tracking Eurasian diplomacy, the key issue is not only whether Moldova leaves specific CIS agreements, but whether its move accelerates broader institutional decoupling and affects trade, travel, and cooperation frameworks. The comments on Ukraine and Armenia also show that formal membership can persist even as governments pursue different geopolitical directions, which matters for businesses, policymakers, and analysts assessing regional risk and future integration patterns.
Timeline & Sources
May 26, 2026
WireLebedev said Moldova's withdrawal procedure from key CIS agreements had been launched.
May 26, 2026
WireLebedev said Ukraine remains a CIS member and has not applied to leave.
May 26, 2026
WireLebedev said Armenia remains in the CIS while planning closer integration with the European Union.
May 26, 2026
WireTASS published remarks by CIS Secretary General Sergey Lebedev at a Moscow roundtable.