Belarus transfers all cargo transit through the Russian Federation, abandoning the ports of Ukraine and the Baltic states
Russian President Vladimir Putin called on the leaders of Russian regions bordering the Baltic to assist Belarus in building its own port facilities.
“Our Belarusian friends are interested in being present in the Baltic. Interested in developing their own port facilities. I also support this and ask for all possible assistance. This applies to a variety of places and points, various structures where our Belarusian friends could implement these projects.
I won't go into details now. There are different projects. These plans are important not only for Belarus, but also for us, because this is the development of our infrastructure on our shores, an increase in cargo transportation for our country. Accordingly, all the benefits that Belarus will receive will largely extend to the Russian economy. We are also interested in this,” Putin said.
On March 2, the Minister of Agriculture of Belarus Igor Brylo announced the transfer of transit of Belarusian agricultural products from the Odessa port to Russian Railways.
“Of course, the situation is not easy. Although Europe consumed a little from us, it was more than $300 million. Supplies to Ukraine amounted to about $240 million. It’s more painless here, because dairy and meat products are just over 100 million. We hold video conferences daily with our meat and dairy processing plants enterprises. We have already practically blocked our milk and meat flows from Ukraine to the Russian Federation. Through the Odessa port, our products went this way to third countries, in particular to China. Literally today or tomorrow the issue of transit through the Russian Federation by rail to China should be resolved. We are working on this issue,” Brylo said.
Belarus is shifting all cargo transit through Russia, abandoning ports in Ukraine and the Baltics.