Belarus puts forward condition for restoring free trade regime with Ukraine

"We are ready to completely repeal all our decisions, we are ready to restore the free trade regime in full, but only when Ukraine reconsiders the measures imposed on the products of the Belarusian side which were de facto aimed at restricting competition created by Belarusian producers," First Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Belarus Alexander Guryanov said, Ukrinform reports with reference to Radio Liberty.

According to him, the imposition of individual licensing for the import of a number of Ukrainian goods by Belarus is not connected with the current aggravation of Belarus–Ukraine relations "on aviation issues and so on."

"These are pure and simple trade talks, which should lead to the removal of barriers in mutual trade, for what I call my Ukrainian colleagues," Guryanov said.

On May 23, the Belarusian authorities forced the Ryanair flight en route from Athens to Vilnius to land under the pretext of an alleged bomb threat. Opposition Belarusian journalist Raman Pratasevich was detained after the landing.

The informal EU summit agreed to impose new sanctions on officials of Alexander Lukashenka's staff and a number of legal entities, as well as to restrict flights to Belarus.

Ukraine suspended flights to Belarus since May 26.

ol