Russia will supply Belarus with modern military equipment.

According to BelTA, Russian President Vladimir Putin and Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko agreed on March 11 that Russia would deliver the most modern military equipment to Belarus in the near future.

The press secretary of the President of Belarus, Natalia Eismont, said that for its part, Belarus will increase its supply to Russia of agricultural equipment, passenger transport equipment, and other technical products. Eismont said: “During the talks, the parties focused on the development of the military-industrial complex and defense of the two countries… The heads of state agreed on joint steps to support each other in the context of sanctions pressure, including support for energy prices.”

Government delegations from Belarus and Russia will hold talks in Moscow on March 14 to make concrete decisions on all the issues discussed.

Russia and Belarus believe that the conflict in Ukraine can be resolved at any time if Ukraine is ready.

Earlier, on March 4, the European Commission announced it had suspended cooperation and research programs with Russia and Belarus, citing the two countries' involvement in the current situation in Ukraine.

The European Union (EU) is funding €178 million for eight cooperation programs with Russia aimed at supporting sustainable development in border regions. The EU's decision to suspend these cooperation and research programs with Russia means that these funds will be frozen and no further cooperation agreements will be signed. In addition, the EU is suspending cooperation with Russian organizations in the fields of research, science, and innovation, including four projects currently awaiting approval. Similarly, the EU will also halt two cooperation programs with Belarus worth €257 million.

On March 3, Canadian officials announced that the country would revoke most-favored-nation status for Russia and Belarus, and would provide additional lethal weapons to Ukraine, including rocket launchers and grenades. This decision means that goods from Russia and Belarus will be subject to a 35% import tariff into Canada.

On March 2nd, the World Bank (WB) also announced the suspension of all ongoing projects in Belarus and Russia. The WB currently has 11 projects in Belarus, implemented in various sectors including energy, education, transportation, and COVID-19 response, with a total value of $1.2 billion. In Russia, the bank is implementing four projects, mainly focusing on policy issues, with a budget of $370 million.