Lukashenka, Putin did not discuss deployment of military bases in Belarus

On December 15, at the talks in Moscow, Aliaksandr Lukashenka and Vladimir Putin did not discuss plans to deploy the Russian military base in Belarus. The statement was made by the press secretary of the Russian president, Dmitry Peskov. In early autumn, Putin instructed the Russian Defense Ministry and the Foreign Ministry to hold talks with Minsk officials and based on the talks to sign an agreement on the deployment of the Russian airbase in Belarus. This was followed by protests in Minsk, and later Lukashenka said that Belarus does not need the Russian military base.

Following today's meeting, Lukashenka said that the talks left no issues on which the parties could not agree. "We are ready to assist in meeting the needs of the Russian market for the product groups that we can produce at a competitive price and quality," BELTA quoted the Belarusian president.

Putin said that the talks with Lukashenka were "constructive". Moscow and Minsk have "similar positions on Ukraine and the fight against terrorism in Syria." "Belarus is a neighbor interested in peace on the Ukrainian land,"  said Aliaksandr Lukashenka. He stressed that international terrorism challenged the world and inhuman, barbaric actions of terrorists cannot be justified.

At the talks were also discussed the issues of construction of the Belarusian nuclear power plant in Astravets district. Putin said that it is in strict accordance with the schedule.

Also today, Belarus and Russia have agreed to coordinate the efforts of the Union State and the Eurasian Economic Union on the creation of additional conditions for increasing the volume of bilateral trade and increasing business activity of the real sector of the two economies. This was said in a joint statement, which was signed by President Aliaksandr Lukashenka and Vladimir Putin. See inmore detail here.

Photo: BELTA