Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov’s opening remarks during talks with Foreign Minister of the Republic of Belarus Maxim Ryzhenkov, Moscow, June 10, 2025

Mr Ryzhenkov,

Colleagues,

Friends,

We are glad to welcome the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Belarus on his first official visit to the Russian Federation. We value the relationship between our countries, a relationship based on alliance, strategic partnership, good-neighbourliness, and mutual trust.

The unique nature of our bilateral relations was once again reaffirmed during  our joint celebrations of the 80th anniversary of  Victory in the Great Patriotic War. The presidents of Russia and the Republic of Belarus, alongside other world leaders, participated in the Victory Parade on Red Square. Symbolically, Russian and Belarusian military marched ceremoniously shoulder to shoulder in Moscow and Minsk. Joint processions were held in various cities of the Union State as part of the Belarus Remembers and Immortal Regiment functions.

The dialogue between the two heads of state outlines the strategic course in all areas of cooperation, providing the essential momentum and guidance. It calls on all of us, as agencies responsible for implementing foreign policy objectives, to maintain regular contacts and develop a creative approach towards devising a tactical line.

Yesterday, we discussed a number of related issues. Today, we will certainly continue our discussion. Efforts by President Vladimir Putin and President Alexander Lukashenko set an example of importance for ensuring the regularity of our contacts.  The scale and quality of our bilateral relations, as well as the challenges that arise as we seek to promote these relations, are such that a dialogue is needed on a regular basis.

I recall our meeting in Brest last November, when we held a joint Board meeting. This year, it is our turn to provide a platform for this joint event. Today, we will also discuss preparations for it.

Our inter-parliamentary and interregional dialogue continues to develop.This June, the Nizhny Novgorod Region will host the 12th Forum of Regions of Russia and Belarus on the theme “The Youth of Belarus and Russia as Heirs to the Great Victory and the Future  of the Union State.”  We will also witness the grand inauguration of your General Consulate in Nizhny Novgorod, a symbolic event in its own right. We are expanding the number of our diplomatic missions in the territory of each other.

Our cultural, humanitarian, and spiritual ties play a vital role in reinforcing the foundation that unites our peoples. The recent visit by Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia to the Republic of Belarus served as yet another confirmation of this fact.

International issues are always part of our agenda. Yesterday, during our informal discussion, we also touched upon them. This includes matters related to our immediate environment, cooperation within the EAEU, CSTO and CIS, as well as activities at international venues, such as the UN and OSCE. I want to highlight a new initiative put forward by Belarus, which Russia has strongly supported. I am referring to Eurasian security and the establishment of a regular annual dialogue on this crucial subject. Together with you, we are promoting a document that could serve as a foundation for further collective efforts. At this stage, we will actively uphold the need for precisely this approach to Eurasian security, an approach based on the recognition of equal and indivisible security for any state.  

There is much to discuss, and I am pleased to see you.