The empire strikes back:
The presidents of Russia, Kazakhstan and Belarus signed a treaty on Thursday creating a vast trading bloc which they hope will challenge the economic might of the United States, the European Union and China.
The treaty forging the Eurasian Economic Union will come into force on Jan. 1, once it has passed the formality of being approved by the three former Soviet republics' parliaments.
Ukraine was supposed to be in the parade. Russia has not given up on that goal, as evidenced by continued Russian-supported unrest in eastern Ukraine despite Putin's pledge to "respect" the Sunday vote.
