In Minsk this Monday, Alexander Lukashenko greeted Vladimir Putin with bread and salt, a traditional sign of welcome. The visit brought together leaders from Russia and Belarus as concerns grew that Minsk could play a larger role in the conflict involving Ukraine. Lukashenko noted that the impact of sanctions could be softened through coordinated steps, a point emphasized during talks with Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu and Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, who joined Putin for the discussions.
Lukashenko told Putin that his absence from Belarus in recent years stemmed from various circumstances, including the 2020 pro‑democracy protests and the COVID-19 outbreak, yet he assured the Russian president of a continued welcome in Minsk. He recalled a period when visits to the capital were less frequent but maintained constant contact. Putin described the meeting as very productive and expressed optimism about what they could achieve together.
The talks touched on trade and economic ties, with Lukashenko recalling a growth of about 30 percent since 2021 and noting that this progression supports jobs and wages. He suggested that the year could bring tens of billions of dollars in bilateral trade, underscoring the scale of the relationship. He also reiterated that Russia does not seek to absorb Belarus. Since the formation of the State of the Nation, a joint framework that includes both states, discussions have circulated about the direction of their integration. Lukashenko reiterated his aim to be Moscow’s ally rather than its subordinate.
The two Slavic nations have shared close ties in the post‑Soviet era, with Moscow often backing Minsk through political storms. Putin’s stance during Belarus’ 2020 protests strengthened this bond, and the two cooperated in joint military exercises earlier that year. Russian and Belarusian defense leaders, Shoigu and Viktor Zharenin, were also present at the presidential meeting. Earlier in December, the defense ministers signed an amendment protocol to boost regional security cooperation.
Sergey Aleynik spoke about the discussions with Lavrov, noting several topics, including efforts to counter Western sanctions and the economic implications of energy prices. A key subject was the prospect of aligning energy policy, with ambitions for a common natural gas market between Belarus and Russia. The deal was anticipated to advance toward ratification by early December 2023, reflecting a push toward deeper economic integration and a possible shared currency in the long term. Lukashenko argued that such steps would demonstrate—globally—that crises, epidemics, or sanctions can be navigated through unity. The plan also aims to ease the movement of services, goods, and people across borders, with citizens currently able to travel using their national passports between the two states.