Russia and Ukraine ratified membership of an economic union on Tuesday, despite protests in Ukraine

Russia and Ukraine ratified membership of an economic union on Tuesday, despite protests in Ukraine where the opposition says the deal is an attempt by Moscow to reassert its former imperial power. The union, creating a common tax code and a customs union ending trade tariffs, is also intended to include Belarus and Kazakhstan, which have yet to ratify the arrangements. In the Ukrainian parliament, the opposition boycotted the vote but ratification still passed easily; 265 lawmakers in the 450-seat chamber voting in favour. In the Russian Duma, where President Vladimir Putin's supporters have a big majority of the 450 seats, support was overwhelming; 408 voted in favour. The plan was signed by the presidents of the four former Soviet republics last year. Kazakhstan will vote on Wednesday. Belarus says its parliament, which rarely contradicts President Alexander Lukashenko, plans to consider approval soon. The four have a combined population of about 225 million – nearly 150 million of them in Russia and 50 million in Ukraine. Ukrainian officials said the union was key to sustaining economic growth once the European Union expands to Ukraine's western borders on May 1, raising new barriers to its exports.