Putin Discusses the 'Union State' with Belarus

The 'Union State' with Belarus is not literally a state, but rather a certain level of integration while fully preserving sovereignty, stated Russian President Vladimir Putin.

The day after the release of his article about Ukraine, the president provided expanded comments regarding the purpose and goals of the material he authored.

“When we say 'Union State' with Belarus, it is not a state in the literal sense; it is a certain level of integration. Compared to the European Union, the level of integration in the EU is much deeper than what we have with Belarus under the Union State framework, while fully preserving sovereignty,” Putin said during a broadcast on the 'Rossiya 24' TV channel.

Furthermore, the president noted that this facilitates people's lives, creates certain conditions for economic development, and increases overall competitiveness.

Belarus plans to complete its economic integration with Russia by January 1, 2022. In particular, it is expected to create common markets for energy resources and transportation, unify tax and customs legislation, and transition to a unified industrial and agricultural policy.