Belarus is ready to participate in the negotiation process between Russia and Ukraine if it is asked and if necessary, Belarusian Minister of Foreign Affairs Vladimir Makei said in an interview with China Central Television, BelTA learned from the press service of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. "What is our role? We are not a party to the negotiations, although we do not evade responsibility and are ready to participate in the negotiation process and contribute to the settlement...

Belarus and Russia have everything necessary to keep living and working, Belarusian President Aleksandr Lukashenko said as he met with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow on 11 March, BelTA has learned.   “This is the time of opportunities [the sanctions of the West]. If we get our bearings, believe me, in six months, by the end of the year, people will forget that this happened in our economy. And there is no need to doubt whether or not we will handle the sanctions ......

Belarus' forest reserves are projected to increase by 5% within 1.5 years, Forestry Minister of Belarus Vitaly Drozhzha told the Belarus 1 TV channel, BelTA has learned. “Forest restoration might be done within three years after the felling. This is the deadline stipulated by law. In reality, everything is done faster. Reforestation should outpace deforestation. There is every reason to believe that we can increase our forest reserves by 5%. I think this will be done within a year and...

In January 2022, Belarus' export of merchandise and services rose by 31.5% year-on-year up to $4.029 billion, BelTA learned from the website of the National Bank of the Republic of Belarus (NBRB). In January 2022 Belarus' foreign trade totaled $7.362 billion, up by 28.7% year-on-year. Import amounted to $3.333 billion (up by 25.6%). Surplus of foreign trade in goods and services equaled $695.9 million, up from $409.7 million in January 2021. Belarus' merchandise trade expanded by 32.5%...

Since 4 March 557 people have entered Belarus through the territory of Ukraine, BelTA learned from the State Border Committee. From 6am on 4 March till 6am on 9 March, 367 citizens of Belarus, 167 citizens of Ukraine and 23 citizens of other states crossed the Ukrainian border with Belarus. All in all, since 24 February, 1,515 people arrived in Belarus from Ukraine: 842 citizens of Belarus, 450 citizens of Ukraine and 223 citizens of other states. Checkpoints in Belarus are operating...

The Belarusian National Olympic Committee (NOC) held a joint meeting with the Sport and Tourism Ministry and national sports federations to react to the pressure from the IOC and international federations, BelTA learned from the press service of the NOC. Earlier, the International Olympic Committee recommended that sports federations ban Belarusian and Russian athletes from competitions. This week this recommendation was followed by the international federations of ice hockey (IIHF),...