Other big news from Russia today was Putin telling Lukashenko that the welfare days are over and the Belarusians will have to start paying considerably more for gas and other products (This was done to force Lukashenko's hand on the "unification" - he's been stonewalling).
Putin kills two birds with one stone.
1) Put on a dog and pony show that Russia isn't using energy to thug Europe after what Cheney said and the G8 summit coming up.
2) Push Belarus to join mother Russia.
Good, the Belarussians will be a lot better off.