DONETSK, June 12, /ITAR-TASS/. The self-proclaimed Donetsk People’s Republic (DNR) intends to join the Customs Union of Belarus, Kazakhstan and Russia by the end of 2015 and create a union state with Russia by the end of 2017, sharing political, economic, cultural, and security systems with it, according to the programme of priority actions announced by DNR Deputy Prime Minister Andrei Purgin on Thursday, June 12.

The programme is divided into three stages: June-August 2014; end of 2015; and the end of 2016.

The first stage calls for “strengthening ties with Russia and securing the status of most favourable treatment for the republic’s industrial and agricultural products in Russia.

At the second stage the DNR will join the Customs Union and the Eurasian Economic Community (EurAsEC).

One of the goals pursued by the DNR government is to “create a union state with Russia, which will mean shared political, economic, cultural and security systems”.

The DNR is also planning to nationalise Ukrainian property by the end of 2015 and establish a free trade regime with Russia.

It also intends to move on to “the joint circulation of the Ukrainian hryvnia and the Russian rouble” and prohibit the production of shale gas.

The third stage, ending in 2016, will focus on “developing the economy; raising social standards; creating a modern and fair pension and social welfare systems; modernising industry and agriculture; developing infrastructure, transport and communications to bring them level with Russia and the European Union; forming a union with Russia; and concluding agreements with Ukraine and other states”.