Putin Fails To Win CSTO Allies’ Support On Ukraine War l Another Setback Amid NATO Expansion?

Leaders of the Russia-led Collective Security Treaty Organisation (CSTO) met on May 16 amid the Ukraine crisis. Russian President Vladimir Putin tried to use the summit to strengthen the bloc of ex-Soviet states against the West. The CSTO is viewed as Putin’s bid to form a Eurasian regional order, an alternative to the Western liberal order. The summit was supposed to be a celebratory meeting to commemorate the group's founding 30 years ago. However, some experts believe the summit instead demonstrated discord among some of Putin's friendly neighbours.