OREANDA-NEWS. Belarusian president Alexander Lukashenko said that Moscow promised Minsk «economic assistance» against the background of sanctions from the EU. On Thursday, July 1, Lukashenko and Russian President Vladimir Putin took part in the plenary session of the VIII Forum of the Regions of Belarus and Russia. In connection with the pandemic, the event was held via video link.

According to Lukashenko, before the meeting, he and Putin had a telephone conversation, during which the politicians «updated» some «economic issues». The Belarusian lider did not specify what kind of financial support was discussed and what it's possible volumes were.

«Vladimir Vladimirovich, thank you for once again publicly supporting Belarus in a difficult period», he said. During the conversation, attention was paid to «the problems of the ongoing sanctions pressure on the republiс», the Kremlin stated in turn.

On June 24, the European Union approved new economic sanctions against the regime of Alexander Lukashenko in Belarus. Brussels, in particular, banned the import of petroleum products and potash fertilizers from this country. In addition, the penalties do not allow individuals and legal entities from the EU to sell, supply or transfer products intended for the production of tobacco products. The European Union has also imposed restrictions on access to it's capital markets. It is prohibited to provide insurance services to the Belarusian government and state institutions and organizations. The European Investment Bank will stop any financing of projects in the public sector of Belarus.