Belarus has never lived off Russia and never will, Belarus President Alexander Lukashenko said during the meeting with community leaders, experts, Belarusian and foreign media.

According to the president, the interest rate on Russia's loan to build the Belarusian nuclear power plant stood at 4.8%, while that for Vietnam and Armenia was below 3%, Belta reported.

“Why? We have recently paid back the loan to Gref (Chairman of the Executive Board at Russia's Sberbank). The interest rate on this $600 million loan was 9% and it was issued under the guarantees of Belaruskali. We tried to find common ground, because time passed and interest rates dropped. We suggested the same interest rates as our western “enemies” or China offer, which is 2%. Our proposal was rejected. After that, I told the government to immediately find the necessary funds, down to gold and foreign currency reserves, to pay this money back,” Alexander Lukashenko said.