19 Mar 2022 12:01

Moscow, Minsk agree on supply of critical goods, including durum wheat, buckwheat, to Belarus, if necessary - govt press service

MOSCOW/MINSK. March 19 (Interfax) - Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin has had a phone call with his Belarusian counterpart Roman Golovchenko, the Russian government press service said in a statement.

"In furtherance of the talks conducted in Moscow on March 14, 2022, Mikhail Mishustin briefed Roman Golovchenko on the Russian government decisions aimed to bolster the interaction in the Russia-Belarus Union State amid the sanctions imposed by unfriendly countries," the press service said.

The prime ministers discussed current aspects of the development of Russian-Belarusian trade and economic cooperation in a variety of areas and progress made in joint projects aimed at strengthening the economic security and technological sovereignty of the Union State, it said.

"In addition, they discussed integration processes in the Eurasian Economic Union," the press service said.

For its part, the Belarusian government press service said on Friday that the prime ministers of Belarus and Russia discussed ways to minimize the sanctions pressure, as well as critical imports and energy supply settlements.

"The Russian colleague informed the Belarusian prime minister in detail about the decisions made in the Russian Federation, according to which Russia's restrictions on exports of goods, raw materials, technological equipment, drugs and medical products, imposed as part of countersanctions, will not apply to Belarus," the press service said.

"There is an agreement to ensure, if necessary, within the framework of approved balances, the supply of all critical foods, including durum wheat, buckwheat and vegetable oil, to Belarus in order to fully meet the market demand," it said.

The prime ministers had a detailed discussion of the agreements reached at the Eurasian Economic Commission Council to minimize the implications of sanctions and to saturate the domestic market, which will create favorable conditions for the supply of commodities and raw materials to the Eurasian Economic Union, the press service said.

"The prime ministers noted that the sides were at the final stage of negotiations on energy prices and settlements based on the agreed-up approach and the principle of mutual support. Respective government agencies are finalizing the procedures," it said.

The prime ministers underlined the significance of a coordinated response to the Western sanctions, the press service said.