MOSCOW, February 26. /TASS/. Moscow and Minsk are jointly resisting sanctions and advocating the formation of a multipolar world, Russian President Vladimir Putin told the Supreme State Council of the Union State.
The geopolitical situation orders two nations to be ready to respond to any challenges jointly, said Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko.
TASS has compiled the key statements of the leaders.
Integration
The people of Russia and Belarus enjoy equal rights in the two countries, Putin said.
According to the Russian leader, integration of the two states is helped by the bonds of centuries-old friendship and common values.
Over the 30 years of integration cooperation, Russia and Belarus have formed a truly common space in almost all areas, Putin noted.
He also expressed confidence that today's joint work will serve to further develop the Russian-Belarusian partnership and alliance.
Trade and investment between Russia and Belarus are growing every year, Putin noted.
He said that the 2025 trade turnover between the two countries amounted to about $52 billion increasing by almost 3% over the year, the Russian leader said.
Russia and Belarus will recreate a direct suburban railway connection between the neighboring regions of the two countries, Putin said.
He noted that the transport network connecting the two countries is expanding.
The signing of the directive on legal support and cooperation between Russia and Belarus is an important step towards protecting international law, Lukashenko said.
He called integration of Russia and Belarus unprecedented, and the parliamentarians the engine of relations.
Lukashenko said that trade in services between Russia and Belarus is developing at a faster pace.
According to him, cross-border rail transportation on the routes from Smolensk to Vitebsk and Orsha, which will be launched in a few months will serve to expand the opportunities for the peoples of Russia and Belarus.
Security and response to challenges
Russia and Belarus will continue to do everything necessary to ensure the military security of the Union State, Putin said.
The Russian leader said the interstate Treaty on Security Guarantees within the Framework of the Union State, which entered into force in 2025, creates a reliable basis for the alliance between Russia and Belarus.
According to him, Moscow and Minsk stand together against the sanctions pressure and advocate the formation of a multipolar world.
Russia and Belarus intend to sign a document today on organizing joint protection of their people from persecution by other countries, Putin said.
The geopolitical situation objectively sets the task for Belarus and Russia to be ready to jointly respond to any challenges, Lukashenko said.
Lukashenko also mentioned the beginning of practical implementation of the Treaty on Security Guarantees within the Framework of the Union State, and the Oreshnik missile system going on combat duty in Belarus in December.
If China and Russia are still feared in the world, then pressure is being exerted on their allies, and their economies are being rudely interfered with, he noted.
Cooperation with other countries
China and Iran would like to develop relations with Belarus by adopting the experience of cooperation between Belarusian and Russian regions, Lukashenko said.