Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko speaks during a meeting with foreign correspondents, in Minsk, Belarus, Thursday, July 6, 2023. (AP)

Belarus should maintain good relations with neighboring EU countries and must not "discard contacts with the high-tech West" Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko said on Friday.

"Now we make money primarily in the East: in Russia, China. But we must not discard contacts with the high-tech West. They are nearby, the European Union is our neighbor, and we should maintain contacts with them. We are ready for this, but there should be due consideration for our interests," Lukashenko underscored during a field meeting with the airport's labor collective.

Lukashenko held the meeting to discuss the future of Belarusian aviation in the face of Western sanctions after Minsk was accused of election violations.

UK sanctions dozens over alleged military support to Russia

London imposed sanctions on nine entities and 10 individuals from multiple origins for allegedly helping Russia or destabilizing Ukraine, the UK Foreign Ministry said on Tuesday.

"[A total of]19 entries have been added to the consolidated list and are now subject to an asset freeze and trust services sanctions," the statement read.

The sanctions targeted personnel and businesses from Iran, Turkey, Belarus, Slovakia, Switzerland, and the UAE, as well as Russia.

A number of senior Islamic Revolution Guard Corps (IRGC) and board members of Iran's Paravar Pars Company - a firm specialized in producing drones and UAV tech - have been placed on the list along with Swiss and Slovak nationals who, according to the Ministry, supported Moscow "by carrying on business in a sector of strategic significance, namely the Russian Financial Services Sector."

Similarly to Paravar Pars CompanyA, a UAE-based company called Aeromotus Unmanned Aerial Vehicles Trading LLC, Turkish Azu International Ltd Sti, and Turkik Union Dijital Teknoloji Donusum Ofisi were also accused of supplying Russia with drone technology.

The United Kingdom also sanctioned six Belarusian businesses; BelOMO, Gomel Radio Plant, JSC Kidma Tech, Orsha Aircraft Repair Plant, JSC Peleng, and 2566 Radioelectronic Armament Repair Plant.