Russian President Vladimir Putin participated in a flower-laying ceremony at the Victory Monument in Minsk, the capital of Belarus, as reported by a RIA Novosti correspondent. The moment highlighted a ceremonial start to a visit that underscores the ongoing ties between Moscow and Minsk and the symbolic importance of shared remembrance in the two countries’ political narrative.
During this trip, Putin is scheduled to make an official visit to Belarus on May 23. The Russian leader received a cordial welcome from President Alexander Lukashenko, with the two leaders meeting immediately upon Putin’s arrival at the airport. The encounter continued in an informal setting, reflecting the familiarity of the bilateral relationship and the readiness to engage in both formal and candid discussions.
On Friday, the two leaders are expected to hold talks in both narrow and expanded formats. Lukashenko’s press service notes that the central subject of the negotiations will be Russian-Belarusian integration. This includes the implementation of decisions issued by the Supreme State Council of the Union State, a framework that governs cooperation between the two nations across political, economic, and security dimensions. The planned talks suggest a focus on coordinating policy and accelerating joint projects that shape the trajectory of their alliance in the near term.
Earlier in the day, Putin blessed the Minsk visit after a prior engagement with Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia, extending greetings on the Patriarch’s Name Day. This exchange occurred in the Patriarchal Chambers within the Kremlin, underscoring the close intertwining of state affairs with church leadership in Russia. Following the meeting, Putin proceeded to Minsk to advance what officials describe as a working visit aimed at strengthening bilateral ties through high-level dialogue and practical cooperation.
In related movements, Russian Defense Minister Andrei Belousov is traveling to Minsk for a working meeting with Viktor Khrenin, the head of Belarus’s Ministry of Defense. The Ministry of Defense announcements indicate that the meeting will explore issues of regional security, defense collaboration, and the alignment of military policies within the framework of the Union State. The delegation’s itinerary signals a broad agenda designed to reinforce strategic coordination between Moscow and Minsk on multiple fronts, including defense planning and interoperability of military systems.