Belarus and Russia

Diplomatic relations between the Republic of Belarus and the Russian Federation were established on 25 June 1992.

Following the introduction of the istitution of the presidency in the Republic of Belarus in 1994, Head of State Aleksandr Lukashenko has consistently pursued a course towards the comprehensive development of relations with brotherly Russia.

The strategic partnership and the development of allied relations with the Russian Federation are driven by the geographical, cultural and historical proximity of the two countries and peoples, the complementarity of their economies, and close cooperative links between Belarusian and Russian companies.

The legal basis for Belarusian-Russian integration is the Treaty on the Creation of the Union State, signed on 8 December 1999 by the heads of Belarus and Russia. The legal framework comprises more than 350 international treaties and other international documents. Eighty-nine intergovernmental agreements have been concluded with 80 regions of the Russian Federation, along with around 450 agreements between the administrative-territorial units of Belarus and Russia.

The pace of bilateral relations is set by a traditionally trusting, ongoing dialogue at the highest level. Cooperation between Belarus and Russia is built on the principles of the unconditional preservation of state sovereignty and territorial integrity, and the responsible fulfilment of international obligations by both parties.

The Main Directions for the Implementation of the Provisions of the Treaty on the Creation of the Union State for 2024–2026 are currently being implemented. The Main Directions for 2027–2029 are planned for approval.

Key economic issues of integration within the Union State include creating equal conditions for economic entities, aligning the status of industrial products from Belarus and Russia, and securing access for national producers to state programmes. Consequently, this ensures the economic security of the Union State.

Russia is traditionally Belarus's main trading partner and the largest export market for Belarusian goods. Over the last five years (2021–2025), the total volume of trade turnover between our countries has increased 1.4-fold, with Belarusian exports to Russia growing 1.7-fold. Russia accounts for more than half of the foreign trade volume of the Republic of Belarus.

In recent years, economic cooperation has become not only larger in scale but also more substantial. An increasingly important role is played by cooperation in industry, energy, transport, and the scientific and technical sectors, as well as mutual supplies of agricultural products. The implementation of joint projects for the manufacture of import-substituting products based on the flagships of Belarusian industry continues.

Among the joint Belarusian-Russian investment projects, the largest is the construction of the Belarusian Nuclear Power Plant. The construction of the BelNPP began in 2013, and as early as 2021 and 2023, the first and second power units were commissioned into commercial operation. The Belarusian NPP became the first pioneer of Rosatom's new generation III+ technology development outside Russia.

Joint programmes covering the scientific, technological, industrial, construction, innovation, new technologies, space, and IT sectors continue to serve as an effective mechanism for deepening integration, stimulating the expansion of cooperative ties between Belarusian and Russian economic entities.

In January 2024, a Decree of the Supreme State Council of the Union State (SSC) on the implementation of a unified industrial policy was adopted. Approaches and criteria have been developed to grant the status of "Union State goods" to the products of Belarusian and Russian industrial enterprises.

In December 2024, an interstate Treaty on the Formation of the Unified Electricity Market of the Union State was signed.

Interregional cooperation is actively developing. Forums of the regions of Belarus and Russia are held regularly.

In January 2024, the SSC approved the Strategy for Scientific and Technological Development of the Union State until 2035. Special emphasis is placed on projects in the fields of microelectronics, materials science, agriculture, and nuclear technologies.

Transport cooperation between Belarus and Russia is showing rapid rates of development. The volume of Belarusian export cargo transported through Russian ports is growing: in 2025, 4 per cent more cargo was transported than in 2024. Passenger rail transport between our countries is showing steady growth. This trend is driven by high demand, an increase in the number of "Lastochka" high-speed trains, and the strengthening of Union ties. The first cross-border suburban passenger trains on the Smolensk–Orsha and Smolensk–Vitebsk routes began operating on 2 April 2026, the Day of Unity of the Peoples of Belarus and Russia. Air travel is also in high demand among our citizens. Direct flights connect Belarus with 15 Russian cities.

In 2025, the mutual tourist flow between Belarus and Russia grew by almost 10 per cent, confirming a sustained interest in travel within the Union State. Belarus remains one of the most sought-after destinations for Russian tourists, with sightseeing programmes, health resort treatments, and historical and cultural routes maintaining high levels of interest.

The Media Company of the Union State has been established. On 1 April 2026, a new television channel, "Soyuzny", began broadcasting.

The Joint Russian-Belarusian Commission on History (established on 25 January 2024) and the Commission of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Union of Belarus and Russia on the Preservation and Protection of Historical Memory (established on 16 June 2024) are active. Annual international forums of the Union State such as "Great Heritage – Shared Future", "Russia and Belarus: Shared History, Shared Destiny", and other joint historical and cultural events are held. Union projects to commemorate the Great Patriotic War are being implemented.

Work has begun on the development of the Youth Policy Strategy of the Union State.

Belarus and Russia are implementing three-year programmes of coordinated action in the field of foreign policy of the member states of the Treaty on the Creation of the Union State. Measures under the 2024–2026 Programme are currently being carried out. The parties are defining the key areas for synchronising the efforts of Belarus and Russia in the international arena. Concrete agreements have been reached on promoting traditional values and preserving historical memory; approaches to interaction with friendly states and associations have been agreed upon; positions on unfriendly countries and organisations have been coordinated, including countering their sanctions and legal aggression; and cooperation in the media and information support of foreign policy is being discussed. Active joint work is underway to develop and promote the Eurasian Charter of Diversity and Multipolarity in the 21st Century.

A number of bilateral documents in the field of military and military-technical cooperation have been signed. A regional grouping of forces (troops) of the Republic of Belarus and the Russian Federation has been established and is functioning, and cooperation between the air defence systems of the two countries is underway. On 6 December 2024, the Security Concept of the Union State and the interstate Treaty on Security Guarantees were signed. Joint exercises are conducted. In September 2025, the joint strategic exercise of the armed forces of the Republic of Belarus and the Russian Federation, "Zapad-2025", was held. In December 2025, Russian "Oreshnik" intermediate-range ballistic missiles were deployed in Belarus. In May 2026, the first joint training of military units for the combat employment of nuclear weapons and nuclear support took place in Belarus and Russia. All of this is not an instrument of aggression, but rather elements of strategic deterrence.

Law enforcement activities are being improved. A unified regulatory framework in the field of fighting crime is being formed in Belarus and Russia. Coordinated measures are carried out within the territories of both states to prevent, detect, and suppress unlawful activities by organised crime groups, acts of terrorism, and human trafficking. Through joint efforts, a reliable barrier against drug trafficking and illegal migration has been established on the western border of the Union State member countries.

Ensuring equal rights for the citizens of both countries, creating a unified system of social guarantees, and bringing about the approximation and gradual unification of domestic legislation in the social and labour sphere remain among the most important tasks. Today, citizens of Belarus and Russia have virtually equal opportunities for employment, choosing their place of residence, receiving education, medical care, and social security. When crossing the Belarusian-Russian border, Belarusians and Russians are not required to undergo border control, customs inspection, or obtain and complete a migration card. On 11 January 2025, the Agreement between the Republic of Belarus and the Russian Federation on the mutual recognition of visas and other matters related to the entry of foreign citizens and stateless persons into the territories of the member states of the Treaty on the Creation of the Union State entered into force.

Cooperation in the field of culture is actively developing. One of the most famous joint projects is the annual International Festival of Arts "Slavianski Bazaar in Vitebsk". International arts festivals, art exhibitions, and film and theatre festivals are regularly held on a mutual basis.

The Union State contributes to the restoration of global trust, lays down the principles of multipolarity, and offers successful formats for interstate interaction.

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⇒ Belarus in International Relations