Russia and Belarus signal a rapprochement

Leaders from Belarus and Russia held a meeting on 3 April 2017, after which it was announced agreements had been found to solve all the disputes in bilateral relations. These disputes had mainly to do with energy and trade, but also with an increasingly visible border between the two countries where free transit had been the norm.

The meeting was overshadowed by a terrorist attack in St. Petersburg, the same city in which the meeting took place. It was also held in the context of episodes of social unrest both in Belarus and Russia.

• Primary Source

ESO: Background information: Rising tension in the relations between Belarus and Russia http://www.europeansources.info/record/rising-tension-in-the-relations-between-belarus-and-russia/

TASS, 03.04.17: Putin says Russia, Belarus to settle gas issues in ten days http://tass.com/economy/939103

BELTA, 04.04.17: Belarus, Russia settle all disputes in bilateral relations http://eng.belta.by/president/view/belarus-russia-settle-all-disputes-in-bilateral-relations-100096-2017/

Russia: Russian President: News, 03.04.17: Meeting with President of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko http://en.kremlin.ru/events/president/news/54176

Deutsche Welle, 03.04.17: Russia, Belarus repair ties in wake of protests http://dw.com/p/2acSy

Politico, 17.04.17: A tale of two Slavic strongmen http://www.politico.eu/article/tale-of-two-slavic-strongmen-vladimir-putin-alexander-lukashenko-russia-belarus/

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