Putin and Lukashenko meet, Russia will provide Belarus with a loan of 1.5 billion US dollars
Xinhua News Agency, Moscow, September 14 (Reporter Zhang Xiao) Russian President Vladimir Putin and Belarusian President Lukashenko held a meeting in the Russian tourist city of Sochi on the 14th, saying that Russia will provide Belarus with a loan of 1.5 billion US dollars. The matter has been dealt with.
According to Russian media reports, Putin congratulated Lukashenko on his victory in the Belarusian presidential election during the meeting.
He stated that Russia supports the Belarusian people to solve problems and reach consensus through dialogue in a calm atmosphere without being affected by external pressure.
Putin said that Russia still abides by all agreements between the two parties, including all agreements under the framework of the Russian-Belarusian Alliance Treaty and the Collective Security Treaty Organization.
White is a close ally of Russia, and Russia will fulfill all its commitments.
The two countries should strengthen cooperation in the field of national defense.
Putin stated that Russia will provide Belarus with US$1.5 billion in loans, and the finance ministers of the two countries have already begun to deal with this matter.
The new crown epidemic has affected Russia, Belarus, and even global trade. Both sides should take measures to restore trade to the level before the epidemic and create conditions for future development.
Lukashenko said that the economy is the root of all problems and Belarus will cooperate closely with Russia in economic and other fields.
Lukashenko also expressed his gratitude to Putin that Belarus will become the first country to obtain a Russian-made new crown vaccine.
According to information released by the Belarusian Presidential Press Bureau, Lukashenko expressed his gratitude to Russia and Putin for their personal support after the Belarusian election during the meeting.
He said that Russia and Belarus should continue to strengthen cooperation in the military and economic fields.
Regarding the recent protests in Belarus, Lukashenko said that it is important that the protesters do not "cross the red line."
This is Lukashenko's first visit abroad after the election of the White President and the large-scale domestic protests have not yet subsided.
On August 9 this year, Belarus held a presidential election, and Lukashenko was re-elected with 80.1% of the vote.
There were subsequent large-scale protests in Minsk and other cities, questioning the election results.
The Russian side has stated on many occasions that it supports the normalization of the situation in Belarus and opposes the interference of external forces in Belarus's internal affairs.
(Participating reporter: Wei Zhongjie)