In a statement on Monday, Ukraine’s government proposed to its parliament the termination of a free trade agreement with Belarus, a country that has been supportive of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine since February 2022. This move was announced by cabinet minister Taras Melnychuk on the Telegram messaging app, citing a “fundamental change of circumstances” and the “involvement of the Republic of Belarus in the illegal use of force against Ukraine.”
The proposed termination includes the free trade agreement signed in December 1992 and two protocols related to the treaty. Trade relations with Minsk were previously suspended by Ukraine following Russia’s invasion. It is important to note that under Ukrainian law, interstate agreements must be terminated by parliament.
Belarus has remained one of Ukraine’s main trading partners since the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991. The country supplies significant amounts of fuel and fertilisers to Kyiv.
This development comes in the wake of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, which has significantly strained diplomatic and economic relations between the countries involved. The move to terminate the free trade agreement is a clear signal of Ukraine’s stance against Belarus and its support of the invasion by Russia.
This proposed termination is the latest in a series of actions taken by Ukraine to respond to the destabilizing effects of Russia’s invasion. The government has emphasized the need to address the changing circumstances and the involvement of Belarus in order to protect Ukraine’s interests and sovereignty.
It remains to be seen how this move will impact the economic and political landscape in the region. The termination of the free trade agreement could have significant implications for the trade and energy sectors in both Ukraine and Belarus.
With tensions remaining high in the region, the termination of the free trade agreement with Belarus is a clear indication of Ukraine’s commitment to protecting its interests and sovereignty in the face of external threats and aggression.
As the situation continues to evolve, it is likely that further developments will continue to shape the relations between Ukraine, Belarus, and Russia in the coming months.
(Reporting by Pavel Polityuk; Editing by Hugh Lawson)
