Lukashenko: Smolensk understands that we must be together and help each other

During a meeting with Vasily Anokhin, Governor of the Smolensk Region of the Russian Federation, President of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko said that cooperation between Belarus and Russia is even closer than if the countries were part of one state. This is reported by BELTA.

"This is already the fifth visit of Smolensk governor to our Belarus. This shows that Smolensk also understands that we must be together, develop, help each other. Especially in these difficult times. And we will cope with any challenges and problems if we are together," the Belarusian leader noted.

"Russia does not look at us askance. It does not do us any nasty things. On the contrary, it supports us in the most difficult and challenging times. Naturally, we approach and treat this accordingly," said Alexander Lukashenko. "There are two states, there is a common Fatherland. Russians do not object to this. It is from Brest to Vladivostok. This is our Fatherland. That says it all. But it happened, not through our fault, that we have two states - Belarus and Russia. I have never heard the President of Russia say: "Listen, tomorrow we must live in one state!" This has never happened. There is no need for this." "But our cooperation - Belarus with Russia - is closer than if we lived in one state, pointing fingers at each other. That is what we need, so that we are united, and so that no one can pull us apart with all sorts of promises and the like, as happened after the collapse of the Soviet Union," said the Belarusian leader. Alexander Lukashenko also emphasized that the economy is the basis and foundation of relations.