MINSK, October 26. /TASS/. Belarus remains a reliable ally of Russia, and realizes that the very survival of the Belarusian and Russian peoples is at stake in the current situation, Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko said at a meeting with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov.

"We are reliable allies of Russia, you should not doubt it, there can be no playing games here, as we understand that a lot is at stake: the very survival of our countries and our peoples," he said.

Lukashenko added that "despite various kinds of pressure from the outside," Russia and Belarus are moving forward "on the implementation of plans for the [Russian-Belarusian] Union State." According to the president, the countries' trade turnover will reach a record level by the end of 2023. "You should not doubt it; we will ensure our sovereignty," he added.