President’s official visit to the Russian Federation

Aleksandr Lukashenko held talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin at the Kremlin
on March 13th

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During the one-on-one meeting Aleksandr Lukashenko said, “I thought long about what I can say about our relations. As you’ve said, they have indeed reached a very high level. We are creating a unique formation in the form of the Union State [of Belarus and Russia]. History has no examples like that. 

We are off the beaten track. It is complicated. But as you’ve said we have a good mirror that shows us our steps. I am talking about economy, trade and economic relations. And every year we gain despite all the problems. We’ve had problems and we will continue having problems. It indicates that we are moving in the normal direction.”

Speaking about the latest Presidential election held in Belarus, Aleksandr Lukashenko pointed out that a certain choice of the vector between the East and the West always comes to the forefront one way or another during such political campaigns.
“Our elections are always about one side and the other one. As they said in a famous movie, the other side ran away. A small part ran to the West. But some still hide in Belarus. Some stay silent somewhere,” the Head of State stated.
The President stressed that nearly 87 percent of the voters had voted to support him. “It was a voting along the lines of whether we stand with Russia, whether we choose the eastern vector, whether our cradle is here or somewhere else. Well, here is the answer. The nation gave an answer. And this question, the key question has always been on the agenda in our country out of the public view. It is a peculiarity of all our elections. This is why you should have no doubt. I, my colleagues — members of the government, members of the parliament — are in favour of our tightest relations,” the Head of State stated. “We’ve confirmed it as part of our joint fight today, with the conflict in Ukraine at its pinnacle. We have always supported such a policy. And it is very important that the nation has demonstrated it. Our people understand perfectly well where our friends are and where our adversaries, enemies, and competitors are.”
Aleksandr Lukashenko thanked his Russian counterpart for the beginning of the official visit. “We need this demonstration to show Belarusians and Russians that we stand together. That we are sovereign independent states. And yet we are kindred people. That we will forge ahead,” the Head of State said.
“I have encountered much fewer problems than the world and even our region. We are working successfully on it. Of course, there are certain issues. I think we will address them in a broader format, together with specialists. We are aware of these issues,” the Head of State said.

“Perhaps, I would like us to move faster. But it is not always possible. It does not depend entirely on you and me. External circumstances also have a role to play. We understand this perfectly well. Whatever we do, we do in earnest. 

Like, for example, import substitution, countering these sanctions. Everyone thought that we would wither and die in a year. But we are alive and kicking. I am sure that we will go on. We need a little more time. And, perhaps, more persistence. But we have enough of this, it is in our blood,” the Belarusian leader remarked.
The Russian leader congratulated his Belarusian colleague on the re-election as President of Belarus and noted that the first foreign trip was made to Russia. “Dear Aleksandr Grigorievich, I am very glad to see you. I am very pleased that you have decided to pay your first visit to Russia after your re-election as President of Belarus,” he said.
This, according to Vladimir Putin, is understandable, because Belarus and Russia have long enjoyed allied, brotherly relations in the truest sense of the word. “We talk about it all the time, but given the official nature of your visit, it seems fit to remember this again. We have historical ties, kinship ties between a large number of people. Our relations are vibrant today and could be an example for relations between many other countries in economy and security, in terms of co-operation in the international arena, primarily in the UN, in the SCO, where Belarus has become a full member of the organisation, in BRICS, where Belarus has also acquired the status of a partner,” the Russian President stressed.
As for economic co-operation, he said that everything is developing in the best possible way despite various difficulties. According to the Belarusian side, the Belarusian-Russian trade rose by 6.3 percent in 2024 and reached a record level of $51.8 billion.
“Moreover, the work is both routine and forward-looking. We are tapping into new areas of co-operation. At your suggestion, we have started working on it, and the work is going on actively and positively, for example, in aircraft construction,” Vladimir Putin said.
In addition, bilateral relations in culture, education, and sport have been gaining momentum. This year, for example, Belarus will host the Days of Russian Culture and Days of Russian Cinema. Over 80 subjects of Russia maintain relations at the regional level with their partners in the regions of Belarus. “In general, work is vibrant in almost all areas,” the Russian President noted.
He also drew attention to the packed agenda of the current visit of the Belarusian Head of State to Russia. In addition to a number of events, the agenda also includes the signing and exchange of interdepartmental documents, which, according to the Russian President, will facilitate the work at the level of specific enterprises and industries. “I am confident that today’s visit will be held at a good level and will bring good results,” Vladimir Putin said.
The Russian President also repeated his invitation to Aleksandr Lukashenko to attend the parade in Moscow for the 80th anniversary of the Victory on May 9th this year. In addition, he recalled the planned large-scale forum in Volgograd dedicated to the 80th anniversary of the end of the Great Patriotic War and invited the Belarusian side to participate in this event.

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In an interview with reporters in the Kremlin, President of Belarus Aleksandr Lukashenko commented on the 800bn Euro plan proposed by European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen for the rearmament of Europe and French President Emmanuel Macron’s ‘nuclear umbrella’ for EU allies

“Firstly, they should rather not lose this ‘umbrella’ over France, instead of stating that they would keep it over the whole of Europe. Secondly, let them raise their ‘umbrella’ at least over Germany or, figuratively speaking, share nuclear weapons with Germany, their eternal historical enemy. They seem to have reconciled now, but who knows… They have a lot of complaints against each other. Look at Poles and Germans, there are a lot of contradictions there,” the Head of State said.
As for the rearmament plan, Aleksandr Lukashenko remarked, “Let them actually agree on 800bn [Euros] and decide where they will get this money from.”
“There is another path: it’s absolutely open, honest, and peaceful. The conflict in Ukraine is pushing towards it. That’s enough with fighting, let’s live in peace and build a normal policy,” the Belarusian leader urged. “Moreover, as you can see, people there [in the European Union] have raised their heads. They used to live well, including at the expense of us, especially Russia — due to cheap resources that generated good profit. Everyone used to live well, but it is different now.”
“Therefore, Ursula has probably not just never seen any modern weapons of destruction — missiles and so on. She has never seen even a normal pistol, but is already thinking globally in terms of armaments and the creation of a European army,” the President noted. 
“Well, as for Donald [Trump, US President], you can see what position he has taken. There is simply a desire to wonder who will let them do that?” Aleksandr Lukashenko summed up.

PACKAGE OF DOCUMENTS SIGNED FOLLOWING KREMLIN'S TALKS BETWEEN ALEKSANDR LUKASHENKO AND VLADIMIR PUTIN  

Within the framework of Aleksandr Lukashenko’s official visit to Russia, the parties have signed a joint statement of the presidents of the Republic of Belarus and the Russian Federation, a protocol on the exchange of letters of ratification of the treaty on security guarantees between the two countries, a protocol on amendments to the treaty on equal rights of citizens between Belarus and Russia (as of December 25th, 1998), and an agreement on measures for mutual protection of citizens from unjustified prosecution by foreign states and international justice bodies.

Based on materials of sb.by and belta.by