Putin calls for ex-Soviet states to expand their influence

Russian President Vladimir Putin speaks at the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) meeting in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan (Pavel Bednyakov, Sputnik, Kremlin Pool Photo via AP/PA)

Russian President Vladimir Putin attended a summit on Friday of a Moscow-dominated alliance of several ex-Soviet nations and commended the growing co-operation between them despite Western sanctions against Russia.

Mr Putin met in Kyrgyzstan’s capital, Bishkek, with the leaders of most fellow members of the Commonwealth of Independent States.