Western sanctions boost Belarus’ exports to Russia – Belarusian diplomat

February 12, Pozirk. Western sanctions “triggered” a sharp rise in Belarusian exports to Russia, Belarusian Ambassador in Moscow Dźmitryj Krutoj told the ONT TV channel in an interview broadcast on Sunday evening.

“Reorienting $10.5 billion of exports . . . in particular, to the Russian Federation, was by and large a question of the survival for our economy and a stress test for its stability,” the diplomat said. “It is great that it worked out.”

Over the past two years, Belarus increased its exports to Russia by $8.5 billion, switching to Russian and Belarusian currencies in 92 percent of settlements, he noted.