Rumas: Trade volume with Russia has decreased, but the negative balance has also reduced

Since the beginning of the year, trade between Belarus and Russia has seen a decline due to reduced oil supplies. However, at the same time, the negative balance in Belarus's trade with the Russian Federation has also decreased.

Since the beginning of the year, trade between Belarus and Russia has seen a decline due to reduced oil supplies. However, at the same time, the negative balance in Belarus's trade with the Russian Federation has also decreased. This was noted by the Prime Minister of Belarus, Sergei Rumas, today at a meeting in Moscow with the Prime Minister of Russia, Mikhail Mishustin, as reported by a BELTA correspondent.

"We have managed to stabilise trade turnover, it is holding at the level of $35-36 billion," said Sergei Rumas. "We have already received operational information for January: our trade turnover has decreased, but to the satisfaction of the Belarusian side, we have seen that the balance, which was very large, the negative balance, has decreased in January. This means we are balancing our flows. At the same time, we understand the reasons for the decrease in the balance. And this is another issue that we need to discuss – the supply of energy resources."

In turn, the Prime Minister of the Russian Federation, Mikhail Mishustin, noted that Belarus is an ally and strategic partner for Russia. He recalled that last year marked the 20th anniversary of the signing of the treaty on the creation of the Union State. "I am convinced that in the new decade, we will be able to fully unlock the potential of the treaty," noted Mikhail Mishustin. He emphasised the importance of Belarus being Russia's leading foreign economic partner within the CIS space.