MOSCOW. (RIA Novosti political commentator Vasily Zubkov.) In the first half of 2005, Russia's trade with the member states of the Common Economic Space (CES) - Belarus, Ukraine and Kazakhstan - has reached nearly $21 billion. But the future of the CES is not cloudless at all.

After the "orange revolution" in Ukraine, its integration into the CES, which was not smooth before, has slowed down to a crawl. Kiev has approved only 17 of the 93 agreements pertaining to the CES, although it has been the most energetic advocate of a free trade zone without exceptions and limitations.

Russia and Ukraine have not yet coordinated common customs tariffs, and free migration of labor force within the CES can also be forgotten, as Ukraine has announced that it would not allow the entry/exit of persons without foreign passports beginning in 2006.

This dual attitude of Ukraine to the CES has become particularly evident after the recent statements made by some Ukrainian officials. Sergei Teryokhin, the Economics Minister of Ukraine, said after recent talks with his Russian colleague, German Gref, that Ukraine would withdraw from the CES and hence would like to develop bilateral cooperation with Russia. Ukraine has not refuted his statement so far.

The regular statements by Ukrainian officials on the strategic goal of joining the European Union do not clash with the CES strategy, at first sight. But Russia has taken a firm stand: the four strongest states of the former Soviet Union should be fully integrated in a customs union for the CES to become effective.