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President of the Republic of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko: First off, thank you for taking the time to make good on your promise. Earlier, we set up a meeting at this particular time. I am aware that you have had a few challenging days; an official visit usually entails a considerable workload.

Nevertheless, as you accurately pointed out, there is always something important to discuss. We need to go over certain matters before we make certain decisions. These matters are not getting fewer in number and are becoming increasingly challenging. I am ready to discuss issues that are pressing for Russia and Belarus.

President of Russia Vladimir Putin: Mr Lukashenko, I am also delighted to see you. We maintain contact; a couple of days ago, we spoke by phone and scheduled this meeting. We are among friends here, so the workload will not be too heavy.

We discussed bilateral relations with Kyrgyzstan. Our trade and economic ties with Kyrgyzstan are not that extensive but are also on the rise. If we take Belarus, even though in previous years the figures were also good, we have reached a good mark of over US$50 billion in trade, and Russia is the largest investor in the Belarusian economy. To reiterate, the dynamics are good and, overall, things appear to be going quite well in the EAEU, and the trend is very good indeed.

Speaking of Russia-Belarus relations, I would like to highlight the most important points: in addition to positive dynamics in trade and the economy, we have fulfilled more than a third of our plans to improve and to build the Union State. This is critical. The discussions continue productively in the energy sector.

Without a doubt, we have things to discuss when it comes to security of the Union State. You informed me by phone about ongoing relations with your neighbours, and I will be glad to update you on what is happening in terms of achieving results – by peaceful means – that are acceptable and desirable for us on the Ukraine track. I know you always stay up to date and are concerned about it, and you are among the people who want this conflict to be over. We remember your contribution to settling this conflict. Literally from day one, the efforts deployed by Belarus in this regard brought good results, and our first contacts with the Kiev regime on this matter took place on the Belarusian soil with your direct participation. Without a doubt, I will update you on this as well.

Alexander Lukashenko: If you ever decide to return to Minsk, you know we are always ready for that. Whenever the issue of Ukraine comes up in my conversations with the Westerners, the Americans, and they voice their concerns, I always ask them: did you not know that we are kin, and our actions are legally substantiated? We are allies. So, even the Americans, and I credit them with it, never raise this question, never. We made this point once and took it off the table, end of discussion.

I hope everything will turn out well as we can surmise from the latest developments, if the Americans (I will now say publicly what I told them in private) tread carefully and remain fully aware of the fact that this matter is not simple and needs complex solutions.

Vladimir Putin: I think we have achieved such an understanding. We will discuss this matter now.

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