The Kremlin Puts Lukashenka on Heels

Putin has stepped Lukashenka down in Moscow.

Yesterday Lukashenka was not met and he had to wait near the Kremlin's gates. Journalists were involved in "Activity Forum" of the All-Russian People's Front with the President's participation. Vladimir Putin was not in hurry to meet with his Belarusian colleague.

Political analyst Alexander Klaskovsky noticed that Vladimir Putin stepped down the status of Lukashenka in Moscow.

"Belarusian sources told about full-fledged negotiations, but Putin said: "I'm glad that you endorsed the idea to congratulate Patriarch Kirill on the anniversary." That is, it turns out that there is no official visit, but a completely different reason. And it is not accidental that first two leaders visited the Cathedral of Christ the Saviour and had a conversation only in the evening. And the Russian leaders says that if we came together to congratulate, then we could discuss political, economic issues. That is, the Belarusian leader was put on heels," a political analyst says in an interview to Belsat.

He draws attention to the fact that Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev has recently visited Belarus, has something discussed with Lukashenka, but so far the outcome of the negotiations is not known. "I have a suspicion that nothing noteworthy will be informed. And it would mean that the parties have not agreed," Alexander Klaskovsky believes.

Preliminary oil and gas dispute seems to have been decided on the governmental level: gas price remains the same, Minsk will have to fill up the deficiency, but Minsk will receive inter-budget compensation. Russian Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Dvorkovich, however, notes that Minsk has to sign several linked agreements with Moscow to get the compensation.

"This is the case when the details are as bad as hell; it is possible that the Belarusian party, for example, will be forced to export petroleum products using Russian sea ports and to sell a certain quantity of petroleum products to Russia, although it is not economically profitable. And there may be secret treaties, for example, to raise the issue on a Russian airbase in Belarus again. If only "bla-bla" information on the issues mentioned above is available, it will mean that the Belarusian side does not want accept these conditions of the Kremlin. The situation reminds of the classic Soviet satirical novel - every penny given to Belarus will cause many extremely unprofitable services, it looks like it," the specialist believes.