The integration of Russia and Belarus should be closer, the economies should be brought closer together to the maximum. This was stated by the Deputy Head of the Russian Security Council Dmitry Medvedev, reports TASS.
According to him, various issues should be worked out, including the introduction of a single currency. There is no alternative to integration, Medvedev stressed, although the internal situation in the neighboring republic must first normalize.
The Deputy Head of the Security Council reminded that the inevitability of such a development of events is indicated by both the special human relations between the residents of Russia and Belarus, and the complete imprisonment of the Belarusian economy on its partner.
“They supply a significant part of the goods here. They are not expected anywhere else,” Medvedev stressed, explaining the need for integration. The Russian official refused to accept reproaches from Minsk for pressure. In his opinion, Moscow does not put pressure on anyone, just such a rapprochement is in its interests.
Earlier it became known that Russia agreed to discuss the supply of Belarusian oil products through its own ports, thus redirecting flows from the Baltic countries. This will require upgrading the infrastructure and possibly building an additional terminal. At the same time, the current President of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko wants to carry out the work at the expense of a Russian loan.
At the same time, Minsk raised the tariffs for pumping Russian oil to Europe through the Druzhba pipeline as much as possible, although it would like to increase them four times more.
Before the presidential elections on August 9, Lukashenko hinted that Russia poses a threat to the independence of Belarus, several Russian citizens were even detained. After the vote, which led to unprecedented protests against the permanent president, Lukashenko began to be accused of trying to seize the republic of Poland and the Baltic states. Later, at a meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin, he negotiated new loans.