In the joint family

25 years of a strong union between Belarus and Russia: background and prospects

On April 2nd, 1997, the Treaty on the Union between Belarus and Russia was signed. A lot has been done over the past 25 years: there are no customs and border control between our countries, Russians have the right to enter Belarus with internal passports, a common educational space has been created, citizens of the two countries have equal pension rights. And there are indeed many such steps demonstrating the allied equality. This is just the beginning. In November 2021, Aleksandr Lukashenko and Vladimir Putin approved 28 Union State programmes. Rapprochement has taken place even now, amid sanctions attacks by the collective West. Let’s analyse the prerequisites and prospects point by point together with experts.

Strengthening co-operation

Political scientist expert with the Belaya Rus public association Piotr Petrovsky spoke about how further steps to integrate the economies will affect the lives of ordinary Belarusians and Russians. 

Photo by Yury Mozolevsky

♦ There is a switch to Russian rubles in mutual settlements between Belarus and Russia. Moreover, our pricing will be joint. The same as in the Russian Federation, which the Republic of Belarus has been seeking from our eastern allies for 17 years. This will directly impact ordinary people:
— our housing and communal services will receive gas at domestic Russian prices. This means that the price of housing and communal services will not grow so much, and we will feel it;
— our oil refineries will receive oil at domestic Russian prices — without any tax manoeuvre. This will increase the profit from its processing, which will result in an increase in tax revenues to the state budget, more funds will go to the social sphere, to infrastructure. By making such specific direct step, our country, our citizens will become more socially protected; 
— the price of fuel will not rise so much. Fuel affects the price of products, logistics, production costs. This energy solution will improve the life and functioning of a huge segment of the Belarusian industry — from light to heavy. 

♦ Restrictions for Belarusian goods and products have been lifted. A most favoured nation (MFN) status has been introduced on domestic Russian markets amid the inclusion of our country’s production facilities in the programmes of Russian import substitution and government contracts. 

♦ Since April 1st, roaming for incoming calls has been cancelled. This made it possible for affordable communication between the citizens of Belarus and Russia.


In November 2021, Aleksandr Lukashenko and Vladimir Putin approved 28 Union State programmes

Key directions of partnerships   
• Machinery
• Petrochemistry
• Energy
• Construction
• Transport
• Agroindustrial complex


In 2021, Aleksandr Lukashenko held 6 personal meetings with Vladimir Putin, as well as 8 meetings of the heads of governments of the two countries both during working visits and while participating in events within the framework of the EAEU and the CIS


The Russian Federation, which is the main trading partner of Belarus, accounted for 49 percent of the value of foreign trade in goods in 2021


Belarus’ export to Russia amounted to $16.4 billion


The increase in Belarusian exports amounted to 24.6 percent



  Based on materials of sb.by and belta.by