MINSK, 14 January (BelTA) – Belarus President Alexander Lukashenko clarified Belarus' position regarding the changes in the trade regimes between Ukraine, the EU and Russia at today's government's session, BelTA informs.
Alexander Lukashenko noted that in view of considerable changes in trade rules between Ukraine, the European Union and Russia, “we have once again found ourselves stuck between the hammer and the anvil, between two major economic players.”
“No doubt it will affect our foreign economic activities. We need to keep a watchful eye on all the developments. We must fulfill our obligations before the Russian Federation within the Eurasian Economic Union,” said the President.
The head of state underlined that Belarus is not going to cut off ties with Ukraine because this can result in a loss of a $5-6 billion trade.
However, the Russian side never asked for this, Alexander Lukashenko said. "But Russia wants, and rightly so, the process to be transparent," the President added.
The Russian side was asked to identify the routes so that Belarus could transit products from Ukraine to third countries, which Russia did.
The head of state also said that Belarus can process Ukrainian products and then deliver them to Russia. "It is not forbidden. This is what we and Russia agreed to. If a product is made in Belarus, we can supply it to Russia,” Alexander Lukashenko noted.
