Contents tagged with Lukashenko

  • Lukashenko: deeper integration between Belarus and Russia is possible only on equal terms

    Belarus is ready to negotiate deeper integration with Russia only on equal terms, said President of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko in an interview with the Belarusian TV and radio company Mir.

    Lukashenko was asked how he sees the development of the Union State with Russia. In response, he said that “Minsk has never refused and does not refuse now any paragraph of the Treaty on the creation of the Union State and is ready to follow its provisions with the "iron concrete" observance of the …

  • Lukashenko: Ukraine should do everything possible to hold elections in Donbas

    President of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko believes that Ukraine should hold elections in the Donbas in order to end the conflict.

    "All the leadership (of Ukraine), not only the president, who is trying to do something there (his legacy is difficult) (...) should take unpopular steps and hold these elections today in order to go take control of the border with Russia, so that it would be the Ukrainian border, these 400 km," Lukashenko said in an interview with Mir TV channel.

    He believes that …

  • Lukashenko does not object to single currency with Russia

    Minsk is not against the single currency in the union state with Russia, but it should be a neutral currency, said the President of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko in an interview with the MIR TV channel.

    According to Lukashenko, Belarus does not refuse any items of the treaty on the creation of a union state with Russia.

    "Even take the most serious, which is being discussed today. Let's say a single currency. We are not against a single currency, but it alone should be a neutral currency. This …

  • Lukashenko not worried about NATO exercises near Belarus borders

    President of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko held a meeting with the country’s security forces, discussing the response to NATO's military exercises "Defender Europe 2020", reports Belta news agency.

    "I wouldn't want us to look at it as saber-rattling. We do not consider NATO exercises, which are conducted in close proximity to our borders, as such. It is also because they [ NATO] have significantly deviated from their original plans," Lukashenko stressed.

    He also expressed confidence that …

  • Lukashenko: Russia agrees to Minsk oil supply terms

    Moscow fully agreed to Minsk's proposals for oil supplies to Belarus, said Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko, during a government meeting to discuss operations of Belarusian oil refineries.

    "I instructed government officials to review the new proposals of the Russian Federation on the supply of hydrocarbons. They came from the Russians three days ago. I understand that the Russians have completely met our requirements for oil supplies?" asked Lukashenko.

    The head of the Belarusian …

  • Lukashenko: Belarus ready to integrate with Russia, but without coercion

    Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko said that the country is ready for real integration with Russia, but without coercion.

    “We remain, as always, committed to real integration, without coercion to integrate. And it’s strange that this began with Belarus being coerced to integrate. You understand what I’m referring to,” said Lukashenko during a meeting with Mikhail Myasnikovich, Chairman of the Eurasian Economic Commission College, as cited by BelTA.

    He pointed out that even with Boris …

  • Belarus to receive first batch of oil from Azerbaijan

    In March, Belarus will receive its first batch of oil from Azerbaijan – 160,000 tons.

    When Russia failed to reach an agreement with its “brother Belarus” on oil prices, it essentially lost this market, and gave Minsk an opportunity to select suppliers independently. As a result, Belarus has been receiving deliveries of black gold from other countries since January, eliminating Rosneft’s monopoly.

    In January, Belarus received its first batch of Norwegian oil through the Lithuanian port of …

  • Lukashenko refuses to ‘kneel before Putin every New Year’s Eve’

    Belarus will continue to diversify oil purchases from other countries even if it costs more than buying Russian oil, said Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko at a meeting with the staff of the Svetlogorsk Pulp and Board Plant.

    The Belarusian President explained that he was ready to pay more "so that, every year on December 31, not to kneel" before Putin.

    "It shouldn't be like this, and it won't be," he said.

    The Belarusian president also spoke about the pressure of Putin, who wants the …

  • Lukashenko: Belarus to repay Russia $1 billion per year on old loans

    Belarus will pay Russia $1 billion per year for previous loans and will not ask for “any money at all”, and proposes “honest, transparent and sincere” bilateral cooperation, said Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko, as cited by BelTA.

    The US pays Russia “1.5% for keeping their foreign currency there” but Belarus pays 4-6%, Lukashenko explained: “This just couldn’t make us happier – paying Russia $1 billion per year. They’ve invested their money successfully.”

    The president remarked that …

  • Lukashenko: We need to overcome the problems Russia has dumped on us

    In its planning for the next five years, the Belarusian government will have to deal with some serious challenges, said the republic’s president Alexander Lukashenko during a meeting with the newly appointed officials of his administration. According to the president, several of the economic problems are linked to Russia.

    “We will need to plan, and very seriously. Even this year, we have to work very seriously hard to overcome the negative effects in the economy, especially those linked to …