Turn out the lights - let's integrate
Negotiations between the presidents of Russia and Belarus on the integration of the two countries lasted five and a half hours today in Sochi. As a result, the presidents did not make statements to the press, which all this time had been waiting for the heads of state to speak. Seeing off Alexander Lukashenko on the porch of the Bocharov Ruchey residence, Vladimir Putin shook his hand and hugged him, after which the guest got into the car.
Let us remind you that on the same day in Minsk there was a nationalist rally against unification with Russia, which the police did not disperse.
Russian Economy Minister Maxim Oreshkin came out to reporters to talk about the results and said that all decisions were postponed until the next meeting of the presidents, scheduled for December 20. “The positions of the parties are seriously closer,” the minister said, clarifying that we are talking, among other things, about a dispute over preferential supplies of oil and gas to Minsk.
This is where the presidents' statements to the press were to be made. But the final briefing did not take place
It is noteworthy that at the very beginning of today's negotiations, the lights in the room went out. Lukashenko tried to joke: “It’s probably Dima Peskov.”
In Sochi, the Belarusian leader continued to portray his economic independence. Previously, he stated that he had prohibited the government from taking a loan in Russia, but now he has expressed a desire to buy oil and gas at increased prices.
“We don’t ask for anything, we don’t insist on anything. Business entities must have equal living conditions. Do not need anything else. We are not asking, as some say, for cheap gas or cheap oil. We are ready to buy gas for 200 dollars, and to buy oil not for 63 dollars per barrel. The main thing is that there are equal conditions. If our enterprises are bought for $200, then our competitors should have the same price,” Lukashenko said.
In the finale, he turned to Medvedev: “Here, Dmitry Anatolyevich, what we can’t agree on, there’s somewhere to take it.” This is no accident.
The day before, he banned Belarusian state television channels from quoting the Russian prime minister, who again entered into controversy with the Belarusian president.
Let us recall that speaking to deputies, Lukashenko said that President Putin is surrounded by “anti-Belarusian forces” and putting pressure on him. Medvedev, who met the next day with his Belarusian counterpart Sergei Rumas, said that there were no “anti-Belarusian elements” in Russia.
This is not the first public dispute between Medvedev and Lukashenko. Not long ago, the Russian Prime Minister criticized the statements of the President of Belarus about the Great Patriotic War. In response, Belarusian state channels allowed themselves outright rudeness towards Medvedev.
If now they were given the command to remain silent, it means that Lukashenko felt insecure on the eve of the negotiations. But the Russian delegation looked blooming on the eve of the meeting of the presidents.
Observers noticed that in front of Lukashenko there was a whole folder with papers, and in front of Putin there were only a few sheets
In the absence of political results, journalists are left to discuss the gastronomic details of the Sochi meeting. For example, the menu for today's lunch for Putin and Lukashenko was leaked to the press - it looks like one of the presidents was fasting for Christmas, while another was indulging in veal.
Russian Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Kozak, who took a cigarette break twice during the 5,5-hour negotiations, made it clear to journalists that everything interesting was yet to come: “Wait, the more interesting the result will be.”
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