The presidents of Russia, Belarus and Kazakhstan have signed a deal to create a vast trading bloc, hoping that it will challenge the economic might of rival economic zones such as the US, the EU and China.<br /><br />Russian President Vladimir Putin hailed its “epoch-making significance” as the trio met for the signing of the treaty in the Kazakh capital, Astana.<br /><br />He has also said that the formation of the bloc did not mean that Russia was trying to rebuild the Soviet Union.<br /><br />The treaty forging the Eurasian Economic Union will come into force in January once it has passed the formality of being approved by the three former Soviet republics’ parliaments.
