On the finish of a go to to Minsk, Russian President Vladimir Putin mentioned Russia and Belarus are working intently to mitigate the impact of western sanctions in opposition to each international locations.
Talking at a information convention together with his Belarus counterpart, Alexander Lukashenko, Putin mentioned, “Russia and Belarus are working collectively to beat the illegitimate steps and sanctions in opposition to Russia and Belarus,” and have been “working with nice confidence on this path.”
Putin added: “Our international locations are closest allies and strategic companions.”
He mentioned there was joint protection planning between Russia and Belarus and that Russia “will do all the things for the joint security of our international locations.”
“Such measures are crucial due to the tense scenario on the outer borders of the Union state,” he mentioned — an obvious reference to the battle in Ukraine and presumably the fractious relationship of each international locations with Poland.
Putin confirmed that Russia was at present conducting navy workouts on the territory of Belarus and that Russia and Belarus have been additionally collectively creating weaponry.
The Russian Protection Ministry mentioned earlier Monday, that “The ultimate evaluation of the fight functionality and fight readiness of the items might be given by the command on the ultimate stage of coordination — after the battalion tactical workouts have been performed.’
Taking questions on the information convention, Putin mentioned: “Russia and Belarus will create one unified protection house.”
Russian–Belarusian relations: Russian forces have been based mostly in Belarus for a lot of the yr. In October, the Belarus protection ministry mentioned that 9,000 Russian troops have been transferring to the nation as a part of a “regional grouping” of forces to guard its borders. Russian fight plane are stationed at or often go to a number of Belarus air bases. Among the current cruise missile assaults on Ukraine have originated in Belarus, in keeping with Ukrainian officers.
Putin mentioned that Russia stays the biggest investor in Belarus, to the tune of some $4 billion.
For his half, Belarus President Alexander Lukashenko mentioned that 2022 had been a file for Russian-Belarusian relations on all ranges and claimed that “sanctions had a painful boomerang impact on their initiators.”
The European Union and the US have imposed a spread of sanctions on Belarus, principally in opposition to senior officers of Lukashenko’s authorities in addition to air journey and a few exports.
“As a result of the collective West has reared its ugly head at us, we should coordinate our efforts,” Lukashenko mentioned.
Lukashenko added, “Russia can do with out us, however we will not do with out Russia.”
