The European Union has been a hot topic of discussion lately, with many wondering if Russia will ever join the bloc. While there are many benefits to joining the EU, including financial and political stability, there are also some drawbacks that have kept Russia from making the leap. 

Here, we take a look at the pros and cons of Russia joining the EU, and whether or not it is likely to happen in the near future.

The European Union is an economic and political union of 28 member states that are located primarily in Europe. The EU has its own currency, the euro, and its own parliament. Membership in the EU comes with many benefits, including access to the single market, financial stability, and political cooperation.

Russia, on the other hand, is not a member of the EU. While it is a part of the Council of Europe, it is not part of the European Union. There are many reasons why Russia has not joined the EU, including the fact that it is not a democracy and does not meet the economic criteria for membership. 

However, there are also some benefits that Russia could enjoy if it did join the EU.

One of the biggest benefits of EU membership is access to the single market. A single market is a market where goods, services, and people can move freely between member states. This allows businesses to operate in multiple countries without having to set up separate operations in each one. For Russia, joining the EU would mean being able to sell its products and services to the rest of the bloc without having to establish a presence in each country. This would be a major boost to the Russian economy.

Another benefit of EU membership is financial stability. The EU has a common currency, the euro, and a central bank, the European Central Bank. This allows member states to borrow money from the ECB at low-interest rates and to pool resources to respond to economic shocks. For Russia, this could mean access to cheaper financing for its businesses and improved economic stability.

Finally, EU membership would also give Russia a voice in the bloc's decision-making process. As a member of the EU, Russia would be able to participate in the formulation of EU policies and would have a say in how the bloc is run. This is something that Russia currently does not have.

So, would Russia benefit from joining the EU? 

There are pros and cons to both sides of the argument. On the one hand, membership would give Russia access to the single market, financial stability, and a voice in the EU's decision-making process. On the other hand, Russia is not a democracy and does not meet the economic criteria for membership. Ultimately, the decision of whether or not to join the EU will come down to a political decision by the Russian government.