Belarus and Russia Maintain High-Level Talks Amid Ongoing Cooperation

In recent discussions, the leaders of Russia and Belarus, Vladimir Putin and Alexander Lukashenko, spoke by telephone. The exchange was confirmed by the press secretary of the Russian president, Dmitry Peskov, who indicated that a meeting had occurred but did not provide a precise timestamp for the call. The timing of the conversation was not disclosed publicly by Peskov, leaving room for official details to emerge later. A Belarusian Telegram channel named Pool of the First reported that talks continued and suggested the discussion took place on December 2. These reports echo a pattern of ongoing contact between Minsk and Moscow as they navigate shared interests and cooperation. The Belarusian president has previously signaled a plan to meet with Putin soon to address bureaucratic issues that Lukashenko believes hinder the republic’s smooth cooperation with Russia. In a recent context, the two presidents last held a face-to-face meeting at the CSTO summit in Yerevan on November 22. Prior to their meeting, the leaders touched base by phone on November 8, focusing on bilateral ties in areas such as trade, economic cooperation, and a broader program of talks extending through late 2022. The overall tone of these interactions reflects a sustained effort to align policies and strengthen the strategic partnership between Belarus and Russia, with emphasis on economic collaboration, regional security, and mutual interests in the broader post-Soviet space. Analysts note that communications like these help coordinate responses to evolving regional developments, while the exact schedules and agendas remain subject to official release and subsequent updates. The ongoing dialogue underscores the priority placed on high-level diplomacy between the two states and the potential for concrete measures to advance their combined program of cooperation over the coming months. (Cited from official briefings and subsequent reporting on the Kremlin and presidential offices)