Belarus and Russia had successfully withstood the first wave of massive economic attacks

The meeting of the Supreme State Council of the Union State took place on April 6th in Moscow. The day before, Presidents of Belarus and Russia, Aleksandr Lukashenko and Vladimir Putin, held lengthy and fruitful talks — the leaders talked for more than six hours. During this time, they discussed in detail a wide range of topics.

Aleksandr Lukashenko noted the significance and important role of the Union State at the beginning of the meeting of the Supreme State Council, 

“Taking into account current circumstances, it is difficult to overestimate the significance of this unique interstate association. Judging from the combination of results accomplished over such a brief period our union is rightfully a leader among other integration associations. 

As never before, today it is important for us to fully realise provisions of the treaty on establishing the commonwealth of Belarus and Russia, which was signed during these April days 27 years ago in 1996.”
Aleksandr Lukashenko noted that by persistently expanding the legal base of interaction, Belarus and Russia have opened up broad thoroughfares for invigorating business, co-operation of scientific circles and art collectives, partnership of youth associations. Freedom of movement of citizens and capital, equal opportunities for education and labour are seen as undeniable advantages of integration by ordinary 
Belarusians and Russians.
The Belarusian leader noted that the Union State had developed an effective system of defence and security, within the framework of which the regional grouping of troops (forces) and the unified regional air defence system operated successfully. Moreover, steps taken to strengthen border security have significantly increased the protection of the Union State from international terrorism, uncontrolled migration flows, weapons and ammunition smuggling, drug trafficking, and illegal economic activity.
“Yesterday I told the President of Russia that a great number of weapons from Ukraine is flooding into Russia as well as into Belarus through Russia. Our border with Ukraine is sealed. Weapons went through Bryansk Region and other regions. Together with Alexander Vasilievich Bortnikov [Director of the Federal Security Service of Russia] we have completed the operation today. We will inform the public about it in the near future. You know, we detained this terrorist who entered the territory of Belarus and was heading to another country through Russia,” the Head of State said.
Port infrastructure in Ust-Luga (Russia)
Photo: www.dzyannica.by


According to the Belarusian leader, the KGB and the FSB carried out a joint operation:
“We have tracked down the whole network. The Russians are finishing their part of the work here, in Russia, and are working on some other things. So they won’t leave us alone. There are caches — in Belarus and in Russia — containing weapons and explosives. They come and take it. That was how it happened in St. Petersburg [the explosion in a cafe that killed blogger and war correspondent Vladlen Tatarsky]. Most likely, no one transports ammunition and explosives in their pockets across the border. There are caches here. And we have detected several of them in our country. Therefore, we discussed these matters in great detail yesterday. I think we will pull through,” Aleksandr Lukashenko emphasised.
The President of Belarus also recalled the need to create an effective union media holding, “Indeed, it may not be cheap to some extent. But if we want a good coverage of our agenda (we have a lot to talk about), we need to set up this media holding without affiliating it to any organisations. 

In what concerns information confrontation and the formation of a strong ideological support for our Union State construction, a lot has been done by our citizens. We have no right to lose the battle for the minds and hearts of our people on the printed, TV, radio and digital battlefields. The ideological confrontation between East and West will not weaken even after the guns fall silent. It is to stay that way for a long time.”

Aleksandr Lukashenko stressed that Belarus and Russia had successfully withstood the first wave of massive economic attacks. The Belarusian leader stated that the failed attempts at an economic blockade were followed by military blackmail in the form of a consistent build-up of NATO forces and means near the Union State border, especially around Kaliningrad Region.
The President emphasised that in the context of the political, economic and information warfare unleashed against Belarus and Russia and amid the international law crisis and the apparent inaction of international institutions, Belarus and Russia need to defend and promote national interests in an even more coordinated and efficient manner.
The Head of the Belarusian State recalled that the governments of Belarus and Russia have been working in the anti-crisis mode since last year and have achieved noticeable results in adapting the economy to the new reality and building new trade and logistics routes. 
The President of Russia, Vladimir Putin, warmly welcomed the participants of the event at the meeting,

“Our countries are united by traditional friendship, common spiritual, cultural and moral values. It is on this basis that we are building the Union State together, and we have already managed to achieve a lot... The effectiveness of such joint efforts is confirmed by the growing indicators of mutual trade. Russia firmly occupies the place of the largest trade and economic partner of Belarus.”

The Head of the Russian State also noted significant achievements in the integration of key sectors of the economy. According to him, the implementation of the main areas of the provisions of the Union State Treaty for 2021-2023 and union programmes continues.
According to the President of Russia, the development of joint oil and gas markets of the two countries continues. An agreement on a common electricity market is being prepared for signing. 
Amkodor products
Photo by BELTA


Vladimir Putin also said that two countries, Russia and Belarus, would continue to increase their co-operation in defence and security, and expand co-operation in the military and technical sector, “It certainly meets the fundamental interests of our countries and peoples. Aleksandr Grigoryevich raised the issue of extending some of our previous agreements. I fully and completely support this and for my part I ask our Security Council to work on everything that the President of Belarus has set today as a priority task in this area.”
The Russian President did not specify what kind of agreements those were.
Vladimir Putin also spoke about the work on the Security Concept of the Union State. According to him, the document will formulate the main objectives of co-operation in the context of growing tensions on the external borders and the sanction and information wars unleashed against Belarus and Russia.

“We should certainly get down to strategic planning. We will continue to strengthen the security systems of the Union State, thereby guaranteeing the conditions for its sustainable, progressive social and economic development,” the Russian leader summed up.

In Moscow the reporters asked the Belarusian President to comment on French President Emmanuel Macron’s statements made during his trip to China, where he said that no country could deploy nuclear weapons in the territory of another country.
“I agree with him. This is why Americans should remove all the nuclear weapons from five or six countries where they are deployed. And that’s it. All in all, I am quite a radical about that. I believe that nuclear weapons should be dragged into one pile and should be destroyed literally within a certain period of time. That’s it. It is easy to blab like this comrade of ours. Everyone can do it. This is why okay, let’s pile everything together and destroy it. It is the best option. But for now we will act like them,” Aleksandr Lukashenko replied.


 Among the key decisions signed following the meeting of the Supreme State Council of the Union State were:
• Resolution of the Supreme State Council of the Union State ‘On the Development of the Security Concept of the Union State’.
• Resolution of the Supreme State Council of the Union State ‘On the Provision of Humanitarian Assistance from the Budget of the Union State to Students and Educational Institutions of the Donetsk People’s Republic and the Luhansk People’s Republic’.

Based on materials of sb.by and belta.by