MINSK, 22 July (BelTA) – In an interview with the Arab-speaking TV channel Sky News Arabia on 19 July Belarus President Aleksandr Lukashenko revealed the details of his talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Saint Petersburg, BelTA has learned.
The Belarusian leader said that he maintains friendly relations with his Russian counterpart. “We have built very good, close relations with him. We are on the same page. The defense of our states is a common matter. We sometimes argue on certain issues, but there are red lines that we have never crossed. Defense, security of Belarus and Russia are sacred for us. Therefore, this matter dominated the agenda of these negotiations,” Aleksandr Lukashenko said.
During the summit of the two leaders, an agreement was reached on the price of hydrocarbons for the next year, as well as on the supply of Belarusian products to the Russian market. “We do not ask Russia to buy everything we produce. It is out of the question. And I told the president of Russia: we are ready to trade on market terms on the territory of Russia and sell those products that Russia needs but does not produce at all or does not make in sufficient quantities,” the head of state noted.
According to him, economic issues were also discussed, including the sanctions imposed against Belarus and Russia by the United States of America and the European Union. “We instructed the governments to implement a specific plan (it has already been developed) to counter sanctions and to keep growing during this period of time,” the president said.
