Moscow’s Economy Withstands Western Sanctions - Putin

At the meeting held in the Russian city of Sochi, President Vladimir Putin said that Russia's economy is properly resisting Western sanctions and that the authorities' efforts as a whole are bringing a positive result. 

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On the occasion, Vladimir Putin said that Russia's transition to trade with other countries, including Belarus, in national currencies contributes to the strengthening of the ruble, noting that such practice is not detrimental to partners.

For his part, Lukashenko said that the economy of Russia and the Union State as a whole is unexpectedly and intensively strengthening. Speaking about the official Russian currency, the Belarusian president said that it is getting stronger rapidly. 

According to Lukashenko, Western countries have clearly underestimated the economic consequences of their policy toward Russia. Along these lines, he said that the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) member countries, including Poland, intend to dismember Ukraine on the pretext of bringing in peacekeeping forces. Claiming that Western forces are using the same strategy for western Belarus, Lukashenko said, "that is why we keep our ears open." 

The Russian President said that both Russia and Belarus are developing the State of the Union carefully, without haste, adjusting each step so that it strengthens them from the inside out while creating a "fundamental, good and solid basis for economic development."