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Lukashenka: Belarus will be active in Ukrainian market, keep strengthening strategic partnership with Russia

Belarus will be active in the Ukrainian market and continue to strengthen its strategic partnership with Russia, Alyaksandr Lukashenka said Thursday in Minsk, speaking to the heads of Belarusian diplomatic missions.

Ukraine is a very important partner for Belarus, Mr. Lukashenka stressed, according to the government’s news agency BelTA.

“Whatever developments may take place in connection with the association agreement with the European Union and other things, the Ukrainians have always been a pragmatic nation,” the Belarusian leader said. “They will never be able to avoid cooperation with the Eurasian Economic Union.”

“Economic factors will dictate their terms to politicians, including those in Ukraine, and therefore we should be active in that market,” Mr. Lukashenka said.
Cooperation with the Russian Federation remains Belarus' strategic priority, he noted.

“Should I try to convince you of that? We have no alternative,” he said. “Why should we give up our normal relations with the brotherly and friendly state, which is always ready to lend a shoulder of support to us like nobody else?”

The potential of the Union State of Belarus and Russia has not yet been exhausted, Mr. Lukashenka noted. “That is why we will strengthen our strategic partnership with Russia,” he added. // BelaPAN