Minsk — Moscow: effective integration across all areas

President of Belarus Aleksandr Lukashenko met with President of Russia Vladimir Putin in the Kremlin on September 26th

BELTA

The meeting started a little after midday, and the presidents spoke face-to-face in the Ceremonial Office for exactly an hour and a half, after which Aleksandr Lukashenko and Vladimir Putin had a working lunch. After that, the heads of state continued their conversation and, by that time, they had already communicated for a total of 3 hours and 40 minutes. Obviously, not all issues on the agenda had been discussed, so they went to the office of the President of Russia. The meeting lasted 5 hours and 22 minutes in total.
During the open session of the talks, Aleksandr Lukashenko announced possibility of building NPP in eastern Belarus, with an eye on new Russian regions. “Perhaps the location might be eastern Belarus, with the aim of supplying electricity, if necessary, to the regions liberated by Russia: Kherson, Zaporozhye, Lugansk, Donetsk. If there is a specific need for this, in connection with the Zaporozhye plant,” the President of Belarus noted. 

“Rosatom has already worked out options for the further expansion of our nuclear energy programme. I do not wish to speak publicly about finances. We have options, and I will inform you about them. If a decision is made, we will immediately start building either a new energy unit or a new plant, should there be a need in western Russia and the liberated regions,” the Head of State said.

Aleksandr Lukashenko also added, “No need to hide the fact that I would like to discuss a number of regional problems with you. You know that we have some.”
“There are a couple of issues that we usually need to make up our minds about at the end of the year. Even one issue — in bilateral relations,” the Head of State stated.
The Russian Head of State thanked the Belarusian counterpart for taking part in the international forum World Atomic Week. “Essentially it is our common holiday. First of all, because it marks 80 years since the foundation of the nuclear industry in the USSR and we were together at this time. And secondly, today Belarus has become our serious partner in the field of nuclear energy because the first nuclear power plant has been created in Belarus and moreover, an industry has been established in Belarus, whose specialists now work with Rosatom to build nuclear installations in third countries. Certainly, one cannot help but feel joy about it,” Vladimir Putin said.
Vladimir Putin described Russia–Belarus co-operation as very good. “Overall, the situation is very good in economy. It is quite remarkable: trade exceeds $50 billion, and it continues to grow from such a large base [growth was recorded in 2024 and it continues in 2015],” Vladimir Putin noted, adding that Russia leads among Belarus’ trade and economic partners in terms of accumulated investments ($4.5 billion).

“In general, active work is underway in almost all areas,” the Russian President emphasised. According to him, the same applies to the issues of ensuring the security of the Union State of Belarus and Russia. “Here, as we agreed, everything is progressing steadily. The development is following its natural course. I would like to thank you for such attention to our interaction. I am very glad to see you.”

‘THE MAIN THING IN FOREIGN POLICY IS PEACE’

President of Belarus Aleksandr Lukashenko, in an interview in Moscow, made a number of top agenda statements

U.S. President Donald Trump has taken quite a sound and decent stance by focusing his foreign policy on peace — as noted by Aleksandr Lukashenko.
The Belarusian leader was asked whether Donald Trump remains committed to resolving the situation in Ukraine, given that his rhetoric is constantly changing. “Trump has, I get him, such a tactic: push and then back off, back off and then push, and sometimes go for broke — a rebel, in the best sense of the word. I am not much different from Trump in this regard and call myself a Trump supporter. Vladimir Vladimirovich [Putin] has great respect for Trump, no less than I do,” Aleksandr Lukashenko noted. “That is why we are letting some things slide. We understand that Trump is in a difficult situation. You understand this perfectly well. Recently, one of his allies [Charlie Kirk], a very intelligent, smart, devoted ally, was shot dead. And he gets this signal. He has accepted this signal and is responding accordingly.”
“What Trump says must be understood comprehensively. There is no need to jump on him after every kind of statement he makes, like a ‘paper tiger’ [as Donald Trump figuratively called Russia], or something else. I told my ‘older brother’ [President of Russia Vladimir Putin]: well done! He is calm and purposeful in his actions. Yes, he said something. Time will put everything in its place, soon,” the Belarusian leader is confident.
Aleksandr Lukashenko noted that Donald Trump has taken quite a sound and decent stance, “He says he has ended some seven wars and conflicts. Maybe, indeed, seven, maybe six. Yet, the main thing in foreign policy is ‘peace, peace, peace!’.”
The Head of State commented on NATO countries’ statements about their readiness to shoot down aircraft.
A Russian journalist asked the President of Belarus what he thinks when he hears that NATO is already discussing the possibility of shooting down Russian aircraft. “You know, people can talk and run any kind of scam in public. But when it comes to it, then you will see what they shoot down and how,” Aleksandr Lukashenko stated. “Are they going to shoot down Belarusian aircraft — planes, helicopters — on our territory? Let’s say I often fly to the Belovezhskaya Pushcha. It is right on the border with Poland. Are they going to shoot down the President’s helicopter or some kind of military escort helicopter? The response will follow instantly. This is not the war in Ukraine.”
The Belarusian leader also noted that the concerned countries ’are worried and trying to scare us’ that an attack on a NATO country means that ’they would defend themselves and almost attack us’ . “What are we going to do — pardon, pick our noses and eat it? That is why this is such a bold statement [about the readiness to shoot down aircraft],” the President of Belarus stated. “They said they will ‘shoot them down’ — well, let them try. Or they will shoot down something Russian over Kaliningrad. Well, God forbid, then we will have to fight, as they say in Russia, all in. Anybody wants it? No,” Aleksandr Lukashenko emphasised. “I believe these are such ill-considered, stupid statements. You cannot act like that. Neighbours do not work that way.”
The President of Belarus also raised the questions why ‘they are going to shoot us down’ after all, and in this regard recalled how Belarus recently acted in a neighbourly manner towards Poland, warning about the flight of drones, “When nine or twelve drones flew towards them, which we were unable to shoot down over Belarusian territory, we informed them: ‘Guys, watch out!’ What if we did not inform them? They were even surprised that we informed them. So what, are they going to shoot down our planes and helicopters or Russian ones for that?”
Aleksandr Lukashenko mentioned another recent move from the Western neighbours — closing the border with Belarus, “What did that lead to? It is an even bigger scam.”
However, the President of Belarus believes and hopes that the Polish people will ultimately be able to influence the situation and the policy of their country, “I once said that the Polish people are not foolish and they will not allow their government to run amok there. So I have not just hope... Well, even faith and hope in the Polish people. They will not allow the ambitions [of a number of politicians] to run wild there,” the Belarusian leader stated. 
Aleksandr Lukashenko answered question about deploying Oreshnik system in Belarus: already en route.
Journalists asked the Belarusian leader whether the Oreshnik system had arrived in Belarus. “It is already en route. Everything will be fine,” Aleksandr Lukashenko noted.
Earlier — during their meeting at Valaam Island on August 1st — the presidents of Belarus and Russia confirmed plans to deliver the Oreshnik missile system to Belarus by the end of the year. At the same time, it was stated that Belarusian and Russian military specialists had chosen a location for the future positions.

Based on materials of sb.by and belta.by