"We cannot say for now yet that we have fully implemented our plans for a Russian-Belarussian common economic space, and are offering equal economic terms to both countries' companies," President Putin said to a joint news conference after the talks.
"The matter demands compromises. We were making them today for another step forward," he went on.
This year's bilateral trade turnover is expected at $15 billion to make Belarus the world's second, after Germany, for the amount of trade with Russia-though Belarus and Germany are incomparable in terms of economic potential and population alike. Meanwhile, Ukraine's territory exceeds the Belarussian threefold, and population fivefold. Nevertheless, its trade turnover with Russia makes a mere five billion dollars. The fifteen billion of Belarus is fruit of its extraordinary economic contacts with Russia, stressed Mr. Putin.
President Lukashenko described the Saturday negotiations as "professional to the utmost, and very outspoken."
"If our contacts progress in the same vein, and if we convince our governments to settle all matters in a similar way, the work to set up a common economic space and offer an equal start to companies will make spectacular headway. Of that I am sure," he said.
