Possible agenda of forthcoming meeting between Lukashenko, Putin revealed

“The work is in progress, both sides are preparing corresponding materials for this meeting. And I think that it will be very important given the fact that the prime ministers also met many times, and we have made progress in the resolution of a number of issues of the trade and economic cooperation which are important for the two sides. Therefore, the meeting will take place,” the minister said. “Besides, I believe that the recent events which are taking place in and around our countries can and definitely will intensify our integration processes in the bilateral format and, sooner or later, in the multilateral format in the Eurasian Economic Union. Therefore, I think that our presidents need to discuss a couple of things. I believe that the sides will reach serious long-term agreements.”

Vladimir Makei also remarked that the issues of integration in the Union State had not been frozen in the past months. “We have been discussing closer integration cooperation all the time. Heads of specified ministries met with each other regularly. There were mutual visits,” he said.

According to the minister of foreign affairs, Russia's Vice Premier Yuri Borisov visited Belarus not long ago. And the meeting with the prime minister resulted in important agreements in manufacturing cooperation. “Therefore, the dialogue on integration has not stopped. Routine work was done,” Vladimir Makei emphasized.

In his words, there are concrete issues allowing us to say that there is certain progress in these integration processes. And the presidents will get really good material to discuss the future of the Belarusian-Russian relations.

When asked if Minsk's request to allocate money from the loan for the nuclear power plant will be on the agenda of the talks, the minister said: “It is necessary to talk to the Finance Ministry, they are in charge of this area. But I think that the construction of the nuclear power plant is a very important topic and will be discussed. I do not want to discuss the details right now. I cannot say what issues the presidents will discuss.”

He also did not exclude that the interaction in the finance and credit sector will be on the agenda. “But it does not mean that Belarus will definitely ask for Russia's loans or other aid. Perhaps, the sides will discuss the issue of financial and credit cooperation from the perspective of implementing various beneficial joint projects which were, by the way, discussed during the visit of Vice Premier [Yuri] Borisov to Belarus,” Vladimir Makei said.

In this regard, the minister of foreign affairs reminded that Russia's Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin had recently paid a visit to Karelia and had mentioned a joint Belarusian-Russian project to produce vehicles for the forestry industry as a positive example. “This is our enterprise Amkodor. We need to promote such cooperation which will help advance our integration to a brand-new level,” the minister said.