The
post-Soviet states, also collectively known as the
former Soviet Union (FSU) or
former Soviet Republics, are the 15 independent
states that emerged from the
Union of Soviet Socialist Republics in its
dissolution in December 1991, with
Russia internationally recognised as the
successor state to the Soviet Union. On March 11, 1990, Lithuania was the first to declare its independence, with Estonia and Latvia following suit in August 1991. All three Baltic states claimed
continuity from the original states that existed prior to their annexation by the Soviet Union in 1944 and were admitted to the
United Nations on 17 September 1991. The remaining 12 republics all subsequently seceded. 12 of the 15 states, excluding the Baltic states, initially formed the
CIS and most joined
CSTO, while the Baltic states focused on
European Union and
NATO membership.