Russia, Belarus ready to boost union state cooperation amid sanctions
(Reuters) -The prime ministers of Russia and Belarus reaffirmed their dedication to a union state between their two international locations on Monday and acknowledged the significance of cooperation within the face of Western sanctions.
Western nations have taken unprecedented measures to punish Russia and its ally Belarus over the battle in Ukraine, threatening each international locations’ financial well being.
“We’re taking coordinated measures to guard our financial safety and the technological sovereignty of Russia and Belarus,” Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin mentioned after assembly his Belarusian counterpart Roman Golovchenko in Moscow.
“Above all, we take into account it essential to strengthen integration within the union state,” he added.
The 2 Slav neighbours are formally a part of a “union state” and have been in talks for years to maneuver nearer collectively, a course of that accelerated after Russian President Vladimir Putin propped up Belarusian chief Alexander Lukashenko in 2020 when his rule was threatened by months of mass avenue protests.
Western nations imposed sanctions on each international locations after Russia launched its invasion of Ukraine on Feb. 24. Moscow calls its actions in Ukraine a particular army operation designed to de-militarise and “denazify” the previous Soviet republic.
“We’re grateful to our Belarusian mates for his or her constructive place on the scenario round Ukraine,” Mishustin mentioned. “For us this is essential and worthwhile.”
“I’m satisfied that the illegitimate financial sanctions won’t hinder the development of integration within the union state and the additional growth of our fraternal relations,” he mentioned.
Golovchenko appealed to Russia for financial assist, saying Belarus was able to implement the agreements on financial integration contained throughout the union state’s framework.
“Given the excessive vulnerability of the Belarusian economic system to exterior shocks, we’re relying on assist from the Russian Federation at this tough time,” he mentioned.
He additionally known as for pressing implementation of assist measures together with delaying the restructuring of Belarusian debt, transitioning to a brand new pricing system for Russian oil and fixing pure gasoline costs for Minsk in Russian roubles pegged to Russian home costs.
(Reporting by ReutersEditing by Gareth Jones)
