Putin wants to "absorb" Belarus: the media have given clear details on relations between Moscow and Minsk

Bloomberg writes about it

Read also: The probable association of Russia and Belarus: what they say to the Kremlin [19659004] According to the author of the paper, all simply because has a well-deserved rest, the current Russian president in 2024 can not simply leave because he is not sure of the personal security guarantees that his successor could provide, from where it makes attractive an agreement with Belarus.

In 1997, Putin's predecessor, B Figure Yeltsin and Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko signed a framework treaty alliance. The 1999 version of the document essentially describes the federation of two states with a single currency, flag and emblem, the common market and the only judicial system. In particular, it should be managed by the High Council of State, chaired by the presidents of both countries, on a rotating basis, "unless the latter agree otherwise". Lukashenka has headed this body since 2000, but the treaty has never been fully effective. The common labor market
– says in a publication

As the journalist points out, the fact is that Lukashenko only wanted the economic privileges of a closer union with Russia especially in as regards cheap oil and gas, but not the loss of sovereignty as it would arise as a result of the application of this Union Treaty.

"" It was cheaper to give him what he wanted, rather than put it under pressure. However, the association is now politically attractive to Putin because he will be able to assume a strengthened Supreme Council in 2024, preserving a large part of his power for life without changing the constitution. At the same time, the reunification peaceful with the Belarusians can serve as compensation to the Russians for the recent break with Ukraine friend "- he wrote.

Thus, the author concludes that, at present, Putin has the ability to make "non-aggressive" pressure against Belarus due to ongoing tax reform in Russia. In particular, Belarus, which freely buys Russian oil and exports it essentially, will have to pay more by collecting its own tariffs.

Read also: Putin will be a "king" of the unification of Russia and Belarus – Yakovin [19659004] For example, in 2019, according to the Belarusian Ministry of Finance, they will lose 300 m million dollars because of Russia's "fiscal maneuver", which is very high for a country whose economic volume is about 55 billion dollars. The losses will increase with the disappearance of the export duties. 19659005] Although Lukashenko has published Russia has clearly warned against the attempts of assimilation of Belarus, while the official representative of Putin, Dmitry Peskov, said that the merger between Russia and Belarus n & # 39; 39 was not a topic of discussion. The objections were aimed solely at total absorption, rather than a deeper scenario of integration with Belarus. In this scenario, most Belorussians stand up. Although Russia is drawn to this scenario, however, in two meetings with Lukashenko at the end of December, Putin could not convince him to continue. To avoid Putin's pressure, Lukashenko may seek help in the West, but this seems less attractive to him: he suspects the United States and the European Union of wanting to undermine his almost absolute power. Therefore, the decision on the question of the unification of the two countries depends on the question of whether Putin will find other ways to solve his political problems,
– sums up the representative of the publication.

At the end of December 2018, Russia's first Deputy Prime Minister, Anton Siluanov, accused Belarus. non-respect of the trade union agreement and in violation of the customs procedure. According to him, Moscow's confidence in Minsk has recently been lost.