The World Trade Organization has accepted Russia into its membership. The agreement specifies that Russia should ratify within 220 days or by about July 22, 2012. Then Russia would become a member 30 days after it notifies the WTO of that ratification.

Ministers welcomed the agreement and the forthcoming membership of the last large economy to remain outside the WTO. Switzerland was credited for broking an important deal between Russia and Georgia during the final stages of the negotiations.