Łukašenka fears of Western companies’ return to Russia
February 21, Pozirk. If the US and Russian presidents strike a deal to improve relations, American and European companies may come back to Russia, creating tight competition, Alaksandar Łukašenka has warned during a working visit to the Minsk region.
“We may benefit from it, or maybe not,” Łukašenka said, according to his press office. But whatever happens, “everyone needs food,” he added, noting that Belarus sold more than $8 billion worth of agricultural products in 2024.
“It’s great, but we can lose it. As usually happens, we can be satisfied that everything is fine, and then lose it. So we need to shake ourselves up to increase sales to at least $9 billion, or even $10 billion, this year. Food will constantly grow in price,” the Belarusian ruler said.
“But don’t be deluded. We don’t know what the United States wants. I am saying it because I am absolutely immersed in these issues. We don’t know what they will demand from the Russians for ending the war and so on. It seems to me that they will try to pit the Russians against the Chinese. The Russians shouldn’t allow this to happen,” Łukašenka said.
Since 2022, hundreds of Western companies withdrew their businesses from or suspended operations in Russia in protest against the full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
If US President Donald Trump brokers a peace deal between Kyiv and Moscow, some Western businesses may return, analysts say.
Belarus' officials urge OSCE PA members to drop sanctions against Minsk
February 21, Pozirk. Sanctions hamper economic growth and sustainable development in the member countries of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE), Aleh Rumo of the upper house's foreign affairs committee told the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly in Vienna …