In the same boat

Russia is again ready to lend its shoulder to fraternal Belarus.

Such a preliminary conclusion can be drawn based on the scarce information on the results of the meeting between Vladimir Putin and Alexander Lukashenko in Sochi.

There are a lot of questions to be solved.

And all of them - both economic and political - are closely linked to each other.

The future of constitutional reform in Belarus, further economic integration of the two countries, defense issues - all of this was probably discussed in detail during the six-hour talks.

In the absence of meaningful information, the media were forced to focus on form.

Vladimir Putin pleased them by inviting Lukashenka to go skiing.

I had to go to the ski track by snowmobiles.

“Lukashenka overtook Putin on a snowmobile, hitting the video,” - the media hyped out of the blue.

You can understand them - you have to write about something while waiting ... By the way, while skiing, Putin was much more confident than his counterpart.

Alaverdi for hockey? 

The difficult working relationship between the two presidents (to be honest) reflects the political reality.

Despite the essentially single people, we now live in different countries.

This means that interests can sometimes differ.

At the same time, the geostrategic interests of both states are such that it will not be possible to live apart.

Even if you wanted to.

Just yesterday, during the talks in Sochi, we were reminded of this again.

Europe announced the development of new sanctions against Belarus.

And before that, it became known about the new European sanctions against Russia. 

That is, we are in the same boat.

Even the reason for the sanctions is about the same.

In the case of Minsk, this is a "continuation of repression" against Lukashenka's political opponents.

In the case of Russia, this is Navalny's case.

Europeans do not need a strong central authority from their neighbors to the east.

They would prefer decay and weakness - it’s calmer, and it’s easier to exploit, rob neighbors.

And the neighbors snarl.

Do not want.

Moreover, they help each other.

Let us recall the reserve of the National Guard, concentrated near the border with Belarus at a difficult time for Batka.

Lukashenka’s decisiveness and support from Russia did their job.

On the eve of the meeting of the presidents in Sochi, the pro-Western Belarusian opposition essentially capitulated.

Svetlana Tikhanovskaya publicly admitted that her supporters lost the street, and even threw a stone at her European patrons.

They say that they imposed insufficiently tough sanctions that could not break the regime.

The latter, of course, is her mistake.

Do not bite the feeding hand.

The English teacher accidentally, by the will of the circumstances, got a political role, played the "leader of the protest."

It turned out that shouting "we are the power here" is not enough to bite this very power.

All the more so to bear this burden.

For this one good face is not enough.

You need to be "your own", to understand different strata of society.

The same security officials, for example.

How much laughter was there about Lukashenka running around Minsk with a gun at the ready?

Meanwhile, Father, knowing that at that moment he needed the support of the security forces most of all, he gave a signal that they understood.

As time has shown - faithful.

And the rebellious hipsters were left out of business to suck their smoothies.

And Moscow's support was probably largely determined by its behavior during the crisis.

Who will help the next Yanukovych?

And so certain preferences and loans were promised.

Now that the streets of Minsk have become calmer, it's time to discuss the details.

We discussed it.

Putin expressed the opinion that industrial cooperation between Moscow and Minsk is more important than direct financial support from Russia.

Before that, there was information that Minsk would like a loan of $ 3 billion. Lukashenko disowned (but brought a basket of Belarusian jamon and parmesan to Putin).

And he promised to increase merchandise imports from Russia in case of implementation of the planned projects.

A lot has been planned.

A high-speed trunk line, the development of petrochemicals, the transit of Belarusian oil products through Russian ports (hello to the Baltics!), Bringing the nuclear power plant built by Russian specialists to full capacity, etc. According to Lukashenko, only six or seven of the 33 road maps stipulated by the agreements remain to be finalized. 

A separate and important topic is the fight against the pandemic.

Here Moscow is working with Belarus as closely as with anyone else.

This was especially emphasized by the President of the Russian Federation.

No matter how brave Old Man at one time, having moved his country along the Swedish path, and the disease turned out to be real.

In addition, Moscow shared with Minsk the vaccine production technology.

There will also be a Belarusian-made vaccine, but not earlier than autumn, Lukashenka promised.

Well, why not?

There is only one scientific school.

It will probably be. 

In general, the Soviet scientific, technical and industrial heritage of Belarus, carefully preserved by Lukashenko from being pulled apart by the oligarchs, cannot but cause a certain envy among Russians.

The existing large production facilities - all these BelAZ and MAZ trucks - look advantageous.

Perhaps the fear of hostile takeovers on the part of the generally more powerful Russian economy is one of the reasons for the slow integration of the two countries. 

But we, Russians, also have questions for Minsk.

Not so long ago, Lukashenka sang hosanna to "good nationalism."

“With all my love for the Russians, I am the President of Belarus.

Therefore, I will do everything that our Belarusians need, what will distinguish us.

From the Russians too,

”

he said.

We all remember the Ukrainian "Maidan" and we know how much grief it brought.

It is dangerous to encourage nationalism in a country where the majority of the population speaks Russian.

If you release it, you won't drive it back.

However, they say this is nothing more than a political maneuver.

Well if so.

The author's point of view may not coincide with the position of the editorial board.