Sanctions imposed on Belarus block $ 16-18 billion in annual exports to the West, the Belta news agency reported, quoting the Belarusian prime minister. Roman Golovchenko.

Belarus and Russia have been hit by sanctions since Moscow sent tens of thousands of troops to Ukraine on February 24 from Russian and Belarusian territory in what it called a "special military operation" to demilitarize and "denazify" its neighbor.

Ukraine and the West say the fascist allegations are baseless and that the war is an unprovoked act of aggression.

"Because of the sanctions, almost all of Belarus's exports to the European Union and North America have been blocked," Golovchenko said.

"This is about $ 16 billion to $ 18 billion a year."

President Alexander Lukashenko has insisted that Belarus must be involved in negotiations to resolve the conflict in Ukraine, saying Belarus was unjustly labeled an "accomplice of the aggressor".

Belarus was also severely sanctioned last year after intercepting a Ryanair plane flying between Athens and Vilnius and arresting a journalist and his girlfriend after landing.