Expert: Medvedev will talk union, Putin will act
The Russian government looks set to initiate an anti-dumping investigation over the supplies of milk powder from Belarus. Victor Zubkov, Russia's first vice PM, has ordered to study Belarus's milk import prices, while the Ministry of Agriculture is drafting proposals to limit the import of milk powder from Belarus.
Is it accidental that this issue has been raised right after the meeting between Alexander Lukashenka and Dmitry Medvedev?
Economist Yaraslau Ramanchuk believes that this is an evidence of a tougher policy of the Russian goverment towards Belarus. He suggests this has been caused by the old problems: a concept of developing the relations between Belarus and Russia differs greatly from the Kremlin's point of view and from Lukashenka's viewpoint.
Yaraslau Ramanchuk: "I think that today Medvedev will do the talking about the "union state", about "the need to create a single state", about the "real meaning", while Putin and the Russian government will be making practical steps in order to force Belarus to meet those obligations signed with Russia".
Is it accidental that this issue has been raised right after the meeting between Alexander Lukashenka and Dmitry Medvedev?
Economist Yaraslau Ramanchuk believes that this is an evidence of a tougher policy of the Russian goverment towards Belarus. He suggests this has been caused by the old problems: a concept of developing the relations between Belarus and Russia differs greatly from the Kremlin's point of view and from Lukashenka's viewpoint.
Yaraslau Ramanchuk: "I think that today Medvedev will do the talking about the "union state", about "the need to create a single state", about the "real meaning", while Putin and the Russian government will be making practical steps in order to force Belarus to meet those obligations signed with Russia".
