Peskov: No plans for meeting between Putin, Lukashenko in 2019

MOSCOW, Dec 25 (PRIME) -- There are yet no plans for another meeting between Russian President Vladimir Putin and his Belarusian counterpart Alexander Lukashenko before the New Year or immediately after, Russian presidential spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters on Wednesday.

“There are no such plans… (But the presidents) may make any decision necessary to continue the work. If it is needed,” he said.

Peskov also said that Belarus may use any alternative energy sources besides Russian oil and gas.

“Of course, it was discussed, whether there are any more profitable options for Belarus, it is free to use any of them. If they are more profitable than what the Russian Federation offers. The Russian Federation does not want to be similar to a widely known country, which forces its products on its customers, more expensive products than there are on the market.”

Lukashenko said earlier that Belarus may start reverse oil purchases from Poland using two strings of the Druzhba pipeline if no energy cooperation agreement with Moscow is reached.

Peskov also disagreed with Lukashenko’s comment that the positions of Putin and Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev on integration with Belarus differ.

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