“We must first create an economic base, an economic foundation, in order to move forward, including on the political track,” Putin said. Putin said he and Lukashenko also discussed closer military cooperation Thursday, but he did not offer any details. But to Putin’s apparent frustration, Lukashenko dragged his feet on closer political integration with Russia for years — instead of making overtures to Europe and profiting from playing Moscow and the West off each other. Putin said that both sides had agreed to focus on economic integration first, including closer alignment on taxes, pensions and labour law. “If we need closer military, political or economic integration, we will do this immediately,” Lukashenko said.

Source: bd News24 September 10, 2021 09:45 UTC