The Presidents of Belarus and Russia, Alexander Lukashenko and Vladimir Putin, during communication and negotiations, seriously immersed themselves in the economy and issues of military-industrial complexes. The Belarusian Head of State said this on January 28 at the beginning of talks with his Russian counterpart at the Konstantinovsky Palace in St. Petersburg.
According to the President, this topic was discussed after the joint participation of the leaders of the countries in an event on Antarctic research: “In the period after Antarctica, we plunged very seriously into the economy and issues of military-industrial complexes. We’re not hiding anything. We discussed many problems, thought about how to develop further, and what systems we will develop taking into account this bitter experience of a special military operation.”
Vladimir Putin first of all thanked his Belarusian counterpart for coming to St. Petersburg these days. The day before, the city celebrated a landmark event – the 80th anniversary of the complete liberation of Leningrad from the Nazi blockade. The heads of state took part in the opening of the memorial in the Leningrad Region, and then attended a themed requiem concert in St. Petersburg.
“Thank you for accepting the invitation. I am very pleased that you have agreed to slightly change the schedule of our joint work within the framework of the Supreme State Council due to the fact that St. Petersburg is celebrating the 80th anniversary of the complete lifting of the Nazi blockade,” the Russian President said.
Before the talks, Alexander Lukashenko and Vladimir Putin took part in an event to put into trial operation a new wintering complex at the Vostok station in Antarctica and together visited the largest hockey stadium in the world in St. Petersburg – the recently erected SKA Arena. “I think this is also important from the point of view of developing sports contacts,” the Russian leader said.
“In general, the situation is developing very vigorously. In the first 10 months of last year, our trade turnover (according to our data) was $42.5 billion, it is constantly growing. Russia is the largest investor: our investors have invested $4 billion in the economy of Belarus. This work is going on in a two-way mode: Our business operates in Belarus, but our Belarusian friends are also more and more actively exploring the Russian market,” Vladimir Putin noted. – Relations are developing in all directions. I am referring not only to industrial cooperation, but also to agriculture, science, education, and the cultural sphere. Everything is growing at a fast, good pace.”
Returning to the work of scientists from Russia and Belarus in Antarctica, the President said that this cooperation would continue. “It would seem that where we are is where Antarctica is. No, it turns out that there are common interests there, there is something to work on together. And we will certainly do it,” he stressed.
The agenda of the meeting of the two leaders, Vladimir Putin said, covers issues of bilateral cooperation and interaction in integration associations: the CIS, the EAEU, the CSTO. “We also have a very large range of joint work here. Let’s talk about everything slowly,” the Russian leader added.
Vladimir Putin also announced plans during the conversation to inform Alexander Lukashenko in detail about what is happening in the zone of a special military operation.
Speaking about the upcoming meeting of the Supreme State Council of the Union State, the Belarusian leader noted that the parties will try to look further into how to develop cooperation between Belarus and Russia.
“Tomorrow is the day when we formalize many of our movements within the framework of the Supreme State Council. I think we will hold this Supreme State Council with dignity at the highest level,” the Belarusian leader said.
According to him, it will also be about the prospects: “We will discuss our union programs, how they are being implemented. Quite successfully, we have done a lot. We are trying to look further into how we will develop. Thank you so much for all that has been done.”
Alexander Lukashenko noted that in the old days, when Belarus and Russia were “not so strangled,” such days of the HCV and bilateral negotiations were always filled with discussions of some issues that needed to be resolved at the government level. “Today they are decided by governments. Well, to polish the agenda is our sacred business. I am very glad and pleased with our meeting. I am always ready to come to any place in Russia. There is something to see, there is something to talk about,” the Head of State noted.
The President of Belarus also mentioned the joint events that took place on Sunday before the talks at the Konstantinovsky Palace. One of them was a videoconference event on the commissioning of a new wintering complex at the Vostok station in Antarctica.
“As for Antarctica, no one in the Soviet Union shared anything, they worked together. And I am very glad. As well as you, I think, including. We’re glad we didn’t split up. We are doing a common thing. And I thought: Well, what kind of country could provide such opportunities to a country like Belarus! After all, in Russia, by and large, we do not see any problems. There are a lot of things in Russia. – “Please come, work, let’s work together, take, earn, act.” No country would be able to treat you the way you treat Belarus,” the Head of State stressed.
“Again, I’m projecting: what prevented Ukraine and the Baltic countries from working with us like this? This is our world, we have been building it for several decades, we won this terrible war together. Well, let’s move in that direction! No, I don’t want to – they are looking for a better life beyond the seas,” Alexander Lukashenko added.
The President of Belarus noted that in addition to the upcoming meeting of the Supreme State Council, the leaders of the two countries had two busy days, important events for the peoples of both countries were held. Including those dedicated to the 80th anniversary of the liberation of Leningrad from the Nazi blockade. A memorial complex was opened near St. Petersburg in memory of Soviet civilians – victims of the Nazi genocide during the Great Patriotic War, and then a requiem concert was held in the northernmost capital of Russia.
“I already said at the opening of the monument that you very subtly caught such a situation that we owe something to these rear guards. Our people, who could not defend themselves and whom the Nazis, breaking through, killed, drained the blood from the children. It is a monumental and at the same time very telling monument. It’s very decent and respectable. And the crowning achievement of this event is a requiem rally at such a solid stadium – this is our tribute to the defenders, the blockade. Thank God they’re still alive. We owe them a debt. Therefore, I am grateful to you for inviting me,” Alexander Lukashenko said.
“Well, yes, somehow you and I felt that it would be nice to have someone from Ukraine standing next to us. After all, three Slavic peoples suffered. But it’s their choice. What to do, they have a different course… but I think they will come back to us. There is nowhere to go,” the President stressed.
source https://president.gov.by/ru/events/peregovory-s-prezidentom-rossii-vladimirom-putinym-1706455174
