20 February 2026, 18:58

Lukashenko, Putin compare notes ahead of Union State summit in Moscow

The presidents of Belarus and Russia, Aleksandr Lukashenko and Vladimir Putin, held a telephone conversation on the evening of 19 February, during which they additionally discussed matters related to the upcoming meeting of the Supreme State Council of the Union State. This event is of paramount importance in the annual Union State calendar. Earlier in the week, the Belarusian president had discussed relevant issues during a meeting with State Secretary of the Union State Sergey Glazyev. Prior to that, preparations for the Supreme State Council meeting were also considered during another telephone conversation between the two heads of state on 8 February.

It is worth recalling that the Supreme State Council is the highest body of the Union State of Belarus and Russia. Its members include the presidents, heads of government, and speakers of the parliaments of Belarus and Russia. Chairman of the Supreme State Council is Belarusian President Aleksandr Lukashenko. He has held this position since 2000.

The upcoming meeting of the Supreme State Council is due in Moscow on 26 February. During their telephone conversation, the presidents additionally discussed the items on the agenda. “Aleksandr Lukashenko and Vladimir Putin compared notes regarding the agenda of the upcoming event and the most pressing topics to be discussed both in a broad format and face-to-face. The conversation also touched upon some issues of Belarusian-Russian relations,” the press service of the Belarusian leader shared details.

Among the key issues to be discussed are the guidelines for the Union State Treaty for 2024-2026 (approximately half of which has already been completed) and the prospects for developing a new document for the period 2027-2029.

When meeting with Sergey Glazyev on 16 February, the Belarusian president stated: " We are serious about work with Russia to the extent that Russia is capable of it. You understand more than anyone that in certain matters we have drifted very far apart. Including in the economy. Well, fortunately in politics, diplomacy, life has forced us to be together in the military-industrial complex, in defense.

“Time has shown that we have very few friends indeed. We cannot do without each other. Thank God that time has put everything and everyone to their places,” Aleksandr Lukashenko emphasized.

Commenting on the agenda for the upcoming Supreme State Council meeting, the president acknowledged having some concerns but noted a positive development: “It's good that you, unlike the previous bureaucrats, have finally proposed seven workable issues. I mean, really, who would sit and discuss 27 questions?

“Everything is coordinated on our end, Aleksandr Grigoryevich,” Sergey Glazyev responded.

Aleksandr Lukashenko noted that Belarus and Russia are largely interdependent, but their allied relations do not prevent them from pursuing sovereign policies. “We have enough sense to forge a real union in this situation that will be indivisible, and no one will be allowed to tear anyone away anywhere. Especially Belarus from Russia,” Aleksandr Lukashenko said. “The times are such that we need to be together, know our interests and defend them. We have everything we need to protect and defend these interests. There is plenty of foolishness too. But we see this foolishness, we do not need it, we are able to get past it.”

Following a meeting with the Belarusian president, State Secretary of the Union State Sergey Glazyev told the media that “nearly all the issues being brought before the Supreme State Council have been agreed upon by our governments. On 2 February, the Council of Ministers of the Union State met, reviewed these issues, and made decisions. The Supreme State Council will only need to give political approval and green light these projects.”

In addition to the key issues outlined above, related to the main directions for implementing the Union State Treaty, there are others. Moreover, these are no less important for the citizens of Belarus and Russia. One of them is the organization of suburban cross-border railway service. It will connect the border regions. For now, this involves Smolensk Oblast and Vitebsk Oblast. The following project will be implemented: two electric trains will run daily between Smolensk and Vitebsk, and between Orsha and Smolensk. All benefits that citizens have under national legislation will be preserved. A decree will be adopted at the Supreme State Council to launch this mechanism.

Also, on the sidelines of the Supreme State Council, a memorandum on the construction of the Minsk-Moscow high-speed railway might be signed. The project is being developed.

The parties are successfully implementing import substitution projects and the scientific and technical programs of the Union State. A report on their implementation will be presented at the Supreme State Council, and a decision will also be made on outlining development directions for 2027-2029. “Here we are laying the groundwork for ideas related to the strategy for the advanced development of the Union State, relying on the integration of our scientific, technical, and production potentials, as well as the creation of all possible macroeconomic conditions to accelerate the development of our common economic space,” the state secretary said.

Another issue to be brought up for discussion will be the establishment of the Union State Committee on Standardization and Quality.

The agenda also includes a number of issues that the Supreme State Council regularly considers. They are related to the interaction between the ministries of foreign affairs and the justice ministries in the implementation of the common interests of the two countries on the world stage.