Leadership of Belarus and Russia have the highest level of trust

President of Belarus Aleksandr Lukashenko held a meeting with Russian Defence Minister Andrei Belousov, who visited Belarus with a working visit. The President thanked the Russian Defence Minister not only for the training of Belarusian military specialists, but also for the fact that they are not perceived by the Russian side as foreigners and are being trained in everything that Russians learn.

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“This is very important, and we really appreciate it, because it is the highest level of trust. After all, this involves security and defence, and Russia does not fence itself from Belarus. Russia has interaction of the kind with nobody other,” Aleksandr Lukashenko noted.
The Head of State also expressed his gratitude to Russian partners for supplying Belarus with modern weapons at this difficult time, “We are working very actively on promising types of weapons. We are implementing the plan we discussed with Vladimir Putin to deploy the most advanced defence systems here, including the Oreshnik complex. We have made significant progress in this regard. 

We will be discussing these issues today. Everyone should understand that we are serious. We are not going to attack anyone. However, we must defend not only our historical truth, but also our land, our relatives, our loved ones, our families, and our Fatherland. You can be sure of that. We are absolutely ready and will not let our Russian brothers down.”

While planning the upcoming joint exercises (scheduled to be held at Belarusian and Russian training grounds later this year), Belarus and Russia are not going to attack anyone. The Head of State noted, “We are ready for the exercises, and we hide nothing from anyone. We are really showing openness that these exercises are defensive in nature. We are not going to attack anyone, as some think. Well, it’s up to them to think so. We have made a decision at the level of the President to conduct the exercises, and we discussed this issue with Vladimir Vladimirovich [Putin]. As for our part, we are ready at the Belarusian training grounds, and we are ready to go to the grounds of Russia wherever it is needed, according to the plan. We are also ready to accept Russian troops and conduct the exercises of our joint group of forces of the Union State. In this regard, Russia does not need to worry. We will get prepared very well. Our Belarusian units — in the same way as it was at the parade — will not look worse than other elements. We will comply with the advanced methods of modern war and resistance, taking into account the experience of the special military operation and new principles.”

Andrei Belousov conveyed the warmest wishes from Russian President Vladimir Putin to Aleksandr Lukashenko, “We are united not just by friendship: we are already so closely connected that we understand each other almost without words.”

The Defence Minister thanked the Belarusian leader for participating in the celebration of the 80th anniversary of Victory in the Great Patriotic War in Moscow, as well as for the participation of Belarusian servicemen in the parade on Red Square, “Your military marched excellently, and you were the first head of state to stand up and greet your men.”
As a souvenir, Andrei Belousov presented Aleksandr Lukashenko with copies of all the military awards of the Soviet Union, including the Order of Victory (which was bestowed upon sixteen people only).
The Head of State promised to place the gift in the most prominent place in the museum of the Palace of Independence.
The Defence Minister stressed, “Russia and Belarus are not just allies: they have a common defence space, which they are strengthening due to an acute international situation and which they must strengthen as quick as possible. We are doing this in three main directions. The first one envisages increased co-ordination of our troops and our headquarters, and our joint Zapad-2025 exercises (scheduled to be held simultaneously at training grounds in Russia and Belarus) will become the key event this year. The second direction deals with the training of Belarusian military personnel in Russia’s higher educational institutions. More than three hundred people study at the moment, and we are actively sharing the experience of the most modern forms of warfare and plan to continue this practice — taking into account the experience of the special military operation, including the use of unmanned systems (which is now becoming particularly relevant). The third direction is represented by our military-technical co-operation. Together with Viktor Gennadievich [Khrenin, Belarus’ Defence Minister], we have agreed to study this agenda in detail. Actually, it is very extensive.”

Plans to significantly increase trade turnover

Welcoming the guest, Aleksandr Lukashenko said, “I must say that we co-operate quite well, and this is evidenced by the growth of our trade turnover: it always stands at around $200m. However, we can significantly increase this figure thanks to the potential that your region and our republic have.”
The Head of State recalled the main areas of co-operation, “We have been co-operating and will continue to liaise in the supply of our machinery and equipment, primarily for the mining industry. We have enough such equipment, including BelAZ trucks. We are ready and will co-operate with you and other regions of the Russian Federation where it is possible. We are also ready to supply other machinery, Amkodor and MAZ products, which are well known to you.”
The President called the replacement of elevator equipment a special topic of recent times in Belarus and Russia, since the lifts installed in Soviet times have served their time. “We are suppling a lot of elevators throughout the former Soviet Union, primarily to Russia. We know that your region is also in need of such products. You can count on us,” Aleksandr Lukashenko stressed.
The Head of State also noted the readiness of the Belarusian side to supply buses and other gas-powered vehicles to Krasnoyarsk Krai, including on the terms favourable for Russians — in accordance with the preferential leasing programme. According to the President, co-operation in the field of agriculture, agricultural machinery supplies, and construction also looks promising.
The Russian Governor first of all thanked the Head of State for the meeting and stated that co-operation with Belarus is strategic for the Russian region, “Based on all key indicators, Krasnoyarsk Krai is among the top ten largest regions of the country. Co-operation with Belarusian partners is strategic for us. Last year alone, our trade turnover increased by about seven percent, and in two months of this year — by 14 percent already (against January-February 2024). The figure of $200m [the current mutual trade level] is definitely not the limit: it is just a milestone that we can significantly increase.”
The agricultural sector is one of the promising topics for co-operation. According to Mr. Kotyukov, 42 percent of tractors operating in the fields of Krasnoyarsk Krai are of Belarusian production. The region also actively imports Belarusian food.

Belarus waiting for Sultan of Oman with a visit

Welcoming the guest, Aleksandr Lukashenko noted, “It seems to me that as a result of my visit to your beautiful country, we have become not just partners, but already friends. We have exchanged many proposals on the areas in which we can build our co-operation. We were very interested in your country, and — I can tell you openly — as an alternative in that region to promote our interests, primarily trade and economic co-operation with your country and with East Africa, with Africa in general and with the countries of the region through your state.”
As noted by the Head of State, the parties have already made sure that they can co-operate on the designated projects. “Belarus can offer much of which the Omani side is interested in. You are of great interest to us in many areas — i.e. recreation for our people, agriculture, and the supply of products. Your ports, through which we can work in the region, are of major importance,” he said.
Last December, the Head of State paid a working visit to Oman, and the Sultan of Oman's return visit to Belarus is currently being worked out.
Aleksandr Lukashenko noted at his meeting with the Omani guest today, “It is with great, sincere warmth that I recall my meeting with the Sultan of Oman in Muscat. He is a very decent, kind man. It is with great pleasure that we are ready to welcome him in Belarus at a time when it is convenient for you. Please convey my best and warmest wishes and tell him that I am waiting for him in Minsk.”
Later Belarus’ Foreign Ministry hosted a signing ceremony of the agreement between the governments of Belarus and Oman on the establishment of a joint committee on co-operation and investment. The document was signed by Belarus’ Foreign Minister Maxim Ryzhenkov and President of the Oman Investment Authority Abdulsalam bin Mohammed Al Murshidi.
The agreement is one of the main outcomes of President Lukashenko’s visit to Oman in December 2024.

Based on materials of sb.by and belta.by