Russia-Belarus Trade Up 12.5% Since Start of 2026: Putin
18:40 29.08.2026 (Updated: 19:05 29.08.2026)
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Trade between Russia and Belarus has grown by 12.5% since the beginning of the year, Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Saturday.
"The main area of our cooperation, namely trade and the economy, is developing successfully. Despite all attempts from outside to somehow influence this, according to our statistics, trade neared $52 billion last year. This is a good indicator. In the first six months of this year, we saw it rise by another 12.5%," Putin said.
Putin met with his Belarusian counterpart, Alexander Lukashenko, at his Novo-Ogaryovo residence near Moscow on Saturday.
Russia and Belarus continue to work together on the international stage and strengthen the Union State, Putin emphasised.
Russia and Belarus continue to work together on the international stage and strengthen the Union State, Putin emphasised.
"We continue to work actively on the international stage and strengthen the Union State," he stressed, adding that a meeting of the Union State Council of Ministers is scheduled to take place soon.
The Russian president highlighted active cooperation underway between Moscow and Minsk on all international platforms, including the United Nations, the Commonwealth of Independent States and the Shanghai Cooperation Organization.
"All of this will, of course, also be a focus of our attention today," he added.
Belarus is ready to take on all challenges together with Russia, Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko said.
Belarus is ready to take on all challenges together with Russia, Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko said.
"You can have no doubt that we will overcome all kinds of difficulties together through cooperation. I have said this more than once when meeting with representatives of Russian business and regional authorities," Lukashenko underscored.
The Belarusian leader arrived in Russia for a working visit on Thursday. On Friday, he held talks with Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin.
On Friday, Kremlin aide Yuri Ushakov indicated that Lukashenko's visit to Russia was unofficial and that the heads of state would converse in an informal setting.
