MOSCOW, February 10. /TASS/. Moscow sees no connection between the ratification of the Russian-Belarusian treaty on security guarantees and Russia’s relations with the West, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Ryabkov said.
"I wouldn’t draw comparisons between Moscow’s relations with the West and events that occur in the context of further strengthening of our relations with Minsk within the framework of the Union State," the deputy foreign minister told reporters.
At the same time, Ryabkov continued, "many elements of [Russia’s treaty with Minsk] were incorporated into the document against the backdrop and taking into account deteriorating relations with the West." They reflected "the need for Moscow and Minsk to reinforce their unity in order to jointly counter the emerging threats in a more efficient manner," the senior Russian diplomat said.
At the same time, Ryabkov added that he saw "no direct links" between these two subjects.
In early February, Russian President Vladimir Putin submitted to the State Duma (the lower chamber of Russia’s parliament) for approval a treaty with Belarus on security guarantees within the Union State. The treaty is aimed at boosting the joint effort in responding to modern challenges and threats in order to enhance security in the common security space of the Union State of Russia and Belarus.
Following the December 6 session of the Supreme State Council of the Union State of Russia and Belarus, Moscow and Minsk approved the Security Concept of the Union State and concluded a bilateral agreement on security guarantees within the framework of the Union State. Following the meeting, Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko said that he had asked Putin to deploy Oreshnik hypersonic intermediate-range ballistic missile systems in the republic. The Russian president said that the Oreshnik system can be deployed in Belarus in the second half of 2025.