Press conference following talks between presidents of Belarus and Russia

Vladimir Putin, President of Russia:

“We discussed the pricing parameters in the energy sector. We will assume that all the parameters, including those for energy pricing, have been agreed. Of course, during today's talks, we discussed the formation and common defense space and security of the Union State, as well as cooperation within the Collective Security Treaty Organization, taking into account that Belarus will assume the CSTO presidency on January 1. Joint military planning is being carried out within the framework of the common Military Doctrine of Russia and Belarus, where a Russian-Belarusian military grouping of troops is operating. The combined forces of the Russian and Belarusian military units of both countries are being trained in Belarus. A common air defense system has been installed and is on alert.”

Alexander Lukashenko, President of the Republic of Belarus

“This year has indeed been a record-breaking year in the entire post-Soviet 30-year history in terms of the intensity of contacts at all levels. The situation in the world is changing rapidly. And these changes are fateful in their depth and scale. In fact, the future of the Belarusian and Russian peoples is being determined. This is the reality, and there is not a bit of pathos. Today we can state: together we have managed not only to endure, but also to find opportunities for the development of our economies. The year 2022 gives us grounds to assert that we are coping quite well with economic challenges. We are unleashing our enormous potential, which at other times we simply have not seen or did not believe in. We need speedy implementation of the decisions made. Time is now more important than money. This is the essence of our talks today. We have discussed the implementation of the general economic development plan of 28 Union programs. So far, approximately 60% of the total number of tasks defined by these programs has been fulfilled. A number of strategic documents have been signed in the customs and taxation spheres. We need to build on our success! The programs that provide for the creation of joint energy markets, the formation of a unified industrial and agricultural policy are of key importance.”