Alexander Lukashenko, the self-proclaimed president of Belarus, is scheduled to travel to Russia for a working visit in early September. This visit is set against a backdrop of ongoing discussions about bilateral cooperation between Belarus and Russia.
The meeting between Lukashenko and Russian President Vladimir Putin is scheduled for September 9 in Moscow. Dmitry Peskov, the spokesperson for the Russian president, confirmed the visit and noted that Putin had called Lukashenko on August 30 to congratulate him on his birthday and discuss current issues ahead of the upcoming talks.
According to a statement from the Kremlin, the leaders will address various aspects of their bilateral relationship and future engagements in different formats. Peskov emphasized the importance of Lukashenko’s efforts to strengthen allied relations and advance mutually beneficial integration processes in the Eurasian region.
Following the phone conversation, Lukashenko remarked that Putin shared insights for half an hour regarding the situation in Afghanistan. The Belarusian president indicated that discussions would also include his proposal to hold consultations under the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) and the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) concerning Afghanistan. These consultations are planned for mid-September in Dushanbe.
Contextually, this meeting follows a series of previous interactions between the two leaders. In late May, Lukashenko met with Putin in Sochi, where they discussed financial support for Belarus, the Ryanair flight incident, and assistance for Belarusian nationals stranded in Europe due to halted flights. In July, they convened in Saint Petersburg to negotiate gas pricing and credit support for Minsk. Most recently, on August 23, they spoke about economic relations and military cooperation, particularly concerning Belarus’s borders with NATO countries.
Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko is set to meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin on September 9 to discuss bilateral cooperation and regional security issues, including the situation in Afghanistan. This visit follows a series of previous meetings aimed at strengthening ties between the two nations.