Commonwealth appeal: Moscow and Minsk have agreed to jointly address any challenges

Moscow and Minsk are jointly resisting sanctions pressure and advocating the formation of a multipolar world. Vladimir Putin stated this on February 26 at a meeting of the Supreme State Council of the Union State in the Kremlin. Alexander Lukashenko also confirmed the difficult geopolitical situation. However, the countries are coping with the challenges successfully — integration is strengthening, and trade is growing. Another impetus will be given by the new trademark "Commodity of the Union State", which will provide businesses in both countries with access to participate in public procurement. There is good news for residents of border towns: by April 2, the Day of the Unity of the Peoples of Russia and Belarus, it is planned to launch railway transportation Vitebsk—Smolensk and Orsha—Smolensk, the State Secretary of the Union State Sergey Glazyev told Izvestia.

What did the leaders of Russia and Belarus agree on?

On February 26, President of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko arrived in Moscow on a working visit. Together with the delegation, he arrived in the Russian capital to participate in a meeting of the Supreme State Council of the Union State.

The last time an event in a similar format was held was more than a year ago, at the end of 2024. Its results turned out to be truly historic: it was then that Moscow first announced its readiness to deploy the latest Oreshnik missile system in Belarus. And a year later, at the end of December 2025, he took up combat duty there. At the same time, the leaders signed an agreement on security guarantees between Moscow and Minsk, which involves the use of Russian nuclear weapons to protect sovereignty.

The current meeting was held in the jubilee year for the Union State. April 2 marks the 30th anniversary of the signing of the agreement on the formation of the community of Russia and Belarus — it was he who launched the joint integration work that developed into this association.

Now, on this date, Russians and Belarusians celebrate the Day of Unity of Peoples. Over the past decades, the authorities have indeed managed to create equal rights and opportunities for citizens in many ways: they freely choose their place of residence and employment, participate in local elections, and have equal access to social and medical public services.

— The process of deepening integration between our two countries is logical, natural and, I emphasize this especially, mutually beneficial. It is based on the indestructible bonds of fraternal friendship, centuries—old traditions of good neighborliness, mutual support, and common cultural, spiritual, and moral values of the Russian and Belarusian peoples," Vladimir Putin said at the meeting.

As a result, the list of possibilities has become even wider. The leaders of Russia and Belarus signed a substantial package of papers, including, for example, a document on the organization of joint protection of their citizens from persecution from other countries and a decree on the development of suburban railway communication between neighboring regions. Now Vitebsk-Smolensk and Orsha-Smolensk routes will be available for Russians and Belarusians. According to the Belarusian leader, this is a direct request from people.

— As soon as additional Swallows were introduced (Minsk-Moscow — Ed.), we have a huge number, millions of Belarusians, went to Moscow. And today they are no longer enough. I was informed yesterday that our fugitives have already taken care of the fact that Belarusians are not going to Europe at all, they are all going to the east. Less, of course, to China, more to Moscow, to the Russian Federation. That's what it means to "walk away from the earth." We are doing what our people need," Alexander Lukashenko said.

The organization of transportation will begin in the near future, assured the State Secretary of the Union State Sergey Glazyev. According to him, three pairs of trains will run daily on each route.

— We hope that Unity Day in early April will already be marked by the opportunity for residents of the border regions to use this service. It assumes the preservation of all the benefits that are available today in passenger rail transport for all categories of citizens. We expect that the rates will be affordable and it will be comfortable to move around. These will be high-comfort electric trains. Moreover, it will be faster and cheaper than other modes of transport. Including cars," he told Izvestia.

If the project is successful, other possible routes will be considered: Velikiye Luki – Vitebsk, Velikiye Luki – Polotsk and Bryansk – Gomel.

The position of the Union State on the world stage

Part of the meeting was held in an open mode. The leaders could not but touch upon the position and role of the Union State in today's tense international situation. Alexander Lukashenko took the floor first. The geopolitical situation sets the task for the association to be ready to jointly respond to any challenges, he drew the attention of the audience.

And today, the world economy and the global trading system are being "blocked, bent, and broken for themselves" by imposing protective duties, technological and energy blockades, currency pressure, and even piracy, the Belarusian leader pointed out.

— If the leaders of the multipolar world of China and Russia are still somehow afraid, then unprecedented pressure is being exerted on their allies. Just take the last few weeks. For example, Venezuela, Cuba, Iran. Our common partners have become the objects of gross interference, primarily through the economy," Alexander Lukashenko stated.

Vladimir Putin was more restrained about what was happening, but he clearly shared the indignation and discontent of his Belarusian counterpart. The Russian President confirmed once again that their approaches to topical issues on the international agenda "are always close or coincide." Moscow and Minsk are jointly resisting the sanctions pressure and advocating the formation of a truly just multipolar world. The interstate treaty on security guarantees within the Union State, which entered into force in 2025, contributes to this, the head of the Russian Federation said.

— The comprehensive document is aimed at protecting the sovereignty, independence, constitutional order of Russia and Belarus, the integrity and inviolability of our territory and external borders. I am convinced that together with our Belarusian friends we will continue to do everything necessary to ensure the military security of the Union State with all the forces and means available to our countries," the Russian president warned.

Economic prospects of the association

The authorities maintain a comfortable economic climate within the association. Favorable conditions have been created for the implementation of a unified macroeconomic policy, Vladimir Putin said. Import substitution is successfully operating, including in such important sectors as machine and machine tool construction, microelectronics and optics. This is also indicated by statistics: in 2025, the trade turnover increased by almost 3%. And since 1996, it has increased eightfold.

The appearance of products under the "Goods of the Union State" label will also have a positive impact. It is assigned if at least half of the Russian and Belarusian materials and components are used in production. The badge also gives access to participation in government orders and tenders. This will significantly simplify partnership and joint work, representatives of the Belarusian business said. Nevertheless, difficulties for entrepreneurs in both countries still remain due to a number of bureaucratic distortions, Chairman of the Supreme Coordinating Council of the Republican Confederation of Entrepreneurship Union Andrey Kopyt told Izvestia.

— This is explained by the changing conditions in the legislation on the local market, the requirements for localization of production and for participation in the same public procurement, some kind of state support, are becoming more complicated. Therefore, it is difficult for Belarusian businesses to compete with Russian manufacturers, and vice versa. A new concept that is being legally formalized is "Goods of the Union State." Its introduction will improve the opportunity for trade turnover in our common market. And the main thing is to increase comfort for small and medium—sized businesses," he said.

Indeed, the Russian and Belarusian markets are in a very tight "coupling". Russia is the republic's main economic partner, and its share in foreign trade is about 60%. In terms of accumulated investments in the Belarusian economy (which is about $ 4.5 billion) Moscow also firmly holds the first place. Currently, over 2.4 thousand companies with Russian participation operate in the republic.