Lukashenko and Putin discussed modalities of $2 billion Russian loan

Eurasia News

Moscow: Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko and Russian President Vladimir Putin discussed modalities of already announced financial package amounting $2 billion and both leaders are of the view that trade between the two countries will enhance through this injection of Russian money in Belarus economy, reports Russian media on Thursday.

Belarus will receive the money in the form of an intergovernmental 10-year loan, leaving budget money untouched, explained Anton Siluanov, head of Russia’s finance ministry. Interest rates and credit terms will be discussed in 2014, and will involve some amendments to the budget law of the Common State of Russia and Belarus, the finance minister explained. Russia decided to help its closest CIS trade ally by “taking into account what’s happening in the world markets,” Putin said.