President Vladimir Putin has ordered Russia's government to help Belarus fight western sanctions imposed during Minsk's crackdown on political opponents, the Kremlin said on Thursday.

Belarus President Alexander Lukashenko travelled to Russia, a close ally, to hold talks with Russian leader and key ally Vladimir Putin&nbsp;as soaring tensions with the West have boosted his reliance on Moscow’s support.

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Lukashenko has been hit with a slew of sanctions by Western nations but they appear to have had a limited effect on Lukashenko who maintains backing from key creditor&nbsp;Russia.

"Support for Belarus against the backdrop of such stifling sanctions is on the agenda, and the government has been given instructions and it is working in this regard," said Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov.

Russia and Belarus have a union agreement that envisages close political, economic, and military ties but stops short of a full merger.

Russia has pumped billions of dollars into shoring up the Soviet-style, state-controlled economy of Belarus with cheap energy supplies and loans.

Before last year’s election and protests, Lukashenko often accused the Kremlin of trying to force him to relinquish control of prized economic assets and eventually abandon his country’s independence.&nbsp;

Faced now with tougher economic sanctions, the Belarusian leader emphasized a need to jointly counter Western pressure.

“We will deal with terrorism and all that, but the economy is the most important thing,” Lukashenko said, voicing hope that “we will resist that economic blow together with Russia” and adding that the West will not succeed in trying to “monopolise the international agenda and put pressure on us.”

Peskov said the presidents agreed during their five hours of talks that Belarus would receive Russia’s natural gas next year at this year’s prices, the Interfax news agency reported.

The two also discussed terms for new Russian loans and steps to increase cooperation in energy, taxes and customs.

(With inputs from agencies)

President Vladimir Putin has ordered Russia's government to help Belarus fight western sanctions imposed during Minsk's crackdown on political opponents, the Kremlin said on Thursday.

President Vladimir Putin has ordered Russia's government to help Belarus fight western sanctions imposed during Minsk's crackdown on political opponents, the Kremlin said on Thursday. Belarus President Alexander Lukashenko travelled to Russia, a close ally, to hold talks with Russian leader and key ally Vladimir Putin as soaring tensions with the West have boosted his reliance on Moscow’s support. Lukashenko has been hit with a slew of sanctions by Western nations but they appear to have had a limited effect on Lukashenko who maintains backing from key creditor Russia. "Support for Belarus against the backdrop of such stifling sanctions is on the agenda, and the government has been given instructions and it is working in this regard," said Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov. Russia and Belarus have a union agreement that envisages close political, economic, and military ties but stops short of a full merger. Russia has pumped billions of dollars into shoring up the Soviet-style, state-controlled economy of Belarus with cheap energy supplies and loans. Before last year’s election and protests, Lukashenko often accused the Kremlin of trying to force him to relinquish control of prized economic assets and eventually abandon his country’s independence. Faced now with tougher economic sanctions, the Belarusian leader emphasized a need to jointly counter Western pressure. “We will deal with terrorism and all that, but the economy is the most important thing,” Lukashenko said, voicing hope that “we will resist that economic blow together with Russia” and adding that the West will not succeed in trying to “monopolise the international agenda and put pressure on us.” Peskov said the presidents agreed during their five hours of talks that Belarus would receive Russia’s natural gas next year at this year’s prices, the Interfax news agency reported. The two also discussed terms for new Russian loans and steps to increase cooperation in energy, taxes and customs. (With inputs from agencies)

Russian President Vladimir Putin orders government to help Belarus fight western sanctions

Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko on Thursday mocked the economic sanctions slapped on it by the European Union, calling it 'their powerlessness'.

The European Union had imposed wide-ranging economic sanctions on Belarus for the first time in response to what the bloc called the ''escalation of serious human rights violations'', including the detention of journalist Roman Protasevich.

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The sanctions target the economy but are also aimed at hitting President Alexander Lukashenko and his allies.

Pratasevich, a dissident journalist, was arrested May 23 after Belarusian flight controllers ordered a Ryanair jet travelling from Greece to Lithuania to land in Minsk.

The measures include banning EU businesses from importing goods or doing business with Belarusian companies in sectors including banking, petroleum products and potash, a salt used in fertilizer that is the country's main export.

Lukashenko, commenting on the sanctions while at a work trip in Grodno region, also said that the sanctions should not affect Belarusian companies.

The sanctions are far stricter than measures imposed in the past, which had mainly consisted of blacklists of Belarusian officials and had little or no impact on the behaviour of President Alexander Lukashenko, in power since 1994.

EU leaders were outraged by the interception of the Ryanair plane flying between Athens and Vilnius on May 23. Belarusian authorities arrested a dissident journalist and his girlfriend after the plane landed, in an incident which Western countries branded state piracy.

With Lukashenko so far impervious to foreign pressure over disputed elections last August, the EU said it wanted to dramatically escalate pressure.

Lukashenko argued that the journalist pulled off the plane had been plotting a rebellion, and he accused the West of waging a hybrid war against him.

Since cracking down violently on pro-democracy demonstrations after a disputed election outcome last year, he has withstood three rounds of EU sanctions and comparable US&nbsp;measures - mainly blacklists that bar officials from travelling to or doing business in Europe and the United States.

(With inputs from agencies)

Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko on Thursday mocked the economic sanctions slapped on it by the European Union, calling it 'their powerlessness'. The European Union had imposed wide-ranging economic sanctions on Belarus for the first time in response to what the bloc called the ''escalation of serious human rights violations'', including the detention of journalist Roman Protasevich.

Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko on Thursday mocked the economic sanctions slapped on it by the European Union, calling it 'their powerlessness'. The European Union had imposed wide-ranging economic sanctions on Belarus for the first time in response to what the bloc called the ''escalation of serious human rights violations'', including the detention of journalist Roman Protasevich. The sanctions target the economy but are also aimed at hitting President Alexander Lukashenko and his allies. Pratasevich, a dissident journalist, was arrested May 23 after Belarusian flight controllers ordered a Ryanair jet travelling from Greece to Lithuania to land in Minsk. The measures include banning EU businesses from importing goods or doing business with Belarusian companies in sectors including banking, petroleum products and potash, a salt used in fertilizer that is the country's main export. Lukashenko, commenting on the sanctions while at a work trip in Grodno region, also said that the sanctions should not affect Belarusian companies. The sanctions are far stricter than measures imposed in the past, which had mainly consisted of blacklists of Belarusian officials and had little or no impact on the behaviour of President Alexander Lukashenko, in power since 1994. EU leaders were outraged by the interception of the Ryanair plane flying between Athens and Vilnius on May 23. Belarusian authorities arrested a dissident journalist and his girlfriend after the plane landed, in an incident which Western countries branded state piracy. With Lukashenko so far impervious to foreign pressure over disputed elections last August, the EU said it wanted to dramatically escalate pressure. Lukashenko argued that the journalist pulled off the plane had been plotting a rebellion, and he accused the West of waging a hybrid war against him. Since cracking down violently on pro-democracy demonstrations after a disputed election outcome last year, he has withstood three rounds of EU sanctions and comparable US measures - mainly blacklists that bar officials from travelling to or doing business in Europe and the United States. (With inputs from agencies)

Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko mocks EU, calls sanctions 'powerlessness'

The European Union is mulling sanctions on Belarus after the forced landing of a passenger plane and the detention of a journalist. The bloc's foreign policy chief Joseph Borrell said EU is intent on making Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko pay a high price for the forced landing of a European airliner to arrest the regime opponents.

EU looks to pressurise Belarus with crippling sanctions

Earlier this week Alexander Lukashenko took office for the 6th consecutive term as the President of Belarus. However, the people of Belarus have completely rejected the poll results. Watch report.

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