Near abroad (post-Soviet space) Близьке зарубіжжя (пострадянський простір) (ua)

(one of the narratives that outline the Kremlin's spheres of interest) those ex-Soviet republics that are now independent states. Russia assumes that these weaker (especially in an economic sense) countries should ‘naturally’ gravitate and be drawn to the stronger Russian state referring to shared historical experience, culture, language and so forth of these countries with Russia.