Russian President Dmitry Medvedev says he hopes Russia, Kazakhstan and Belarus will sign an agreement for a “Eurasian Union” aimed at further economic integration.

Mr. Medvedev is scheduled to hold talks on Friday in Moscow with his Belarusian and Kazakh counterparts — Alexander Lukashenko of Belarus and Nursultan Nazarbayev of Kazakhstan. The leaders will discuss the issues involved in setting up the new body.

Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin initiated the treaty last month, envisioning a union of former Soviet states similar to the European Union. It would build on an existing Customs Union with Belarus and Kazakhstan and would aim to promote economic cooperation with the Asia-Pacific region.