Russian and Belarusian Presidents Vladimir Putin and Alexander Lukashenko are to take part in a meeting of the Supreme State Council of the Union State in Minsk, the Kremlin press service reported.
According to the press service, at the meeting "special attention will be paid to strengthening the common defense space of Russia and Belarus."
The leaders of the countries also plan to consider the general progress of union construction and prospects for integration cooperation.
The parties are expected to make specific decisions on the formation of a unified electricity market, combating illegal imports of goods, introducing uniform rules for protecting consumer rights and comfortable tariffs for communication services.
As expected, an agreement between Russia and Belarus on security guarantees and a concept for the security of the Union State will be signed. Earlier, the protection of Belarus was first spelled out in the updated nuclear doctrine of Russia.
The meeting is timed to coincide with the 25th anniversary of the treaty establishing the Union State. Belarusian Ambassador to Russia Alexander Rogozhnik noted in an interview with TASS that this meeting will be significant - the results of 25 years will be summed up, and development areas for the coming year will be determined.
In addition, Putin and Lukashenko will hold a separate meeting.
The State Council is the supreme body of the Union State of Russia and Belarus. It includes the heads of state, heads of government, and heads of the chambers of parliament of Russia and Belarus.
The main tasks of the Supreme State Council include resolving the most important issues of the Union State’s development, approving the budget, approving international treaties of the Union State ratified by the parliament.
The previous meeting of the Supreme State Council of the Union State was held on January 29, 2024.
