Lukashenko: Belarus and Russia – "on our own"

Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko said in an interview that he is 'in the same boat' with Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin and stressed the need to 'focus on our own.' He stated that 'sanctions or no sanctions—we must focus on our own,' emphasizing the importance of developing domestic technologies and using 'homegrown' resources. Lukashenko cited the microelectronics industry, vital for both military and civilian equipment, as an example of successful cooperation with Russia in import substitution. The president concluded by saying that 'we must survive these hard times.'

Context

In 2023, Belarus strengthened cooperation with Russia in the field of microelectronics technologies, signing several agreements on experience exchange and joint product development.