On December 16, 2025, the conference “The Union State: Integration, Development, Trust” was held in Moscow, dedicated to the 25th anniversary of the Union State. The CIS Secretary General Sergey Lebedev took part in it. He made a report “On cooperation in the activities of the Union State and the Commonwealth of Independent States”. The 25th anniversary of the Union State is a landmark event not only for Belarus and Russia, but also for the entire Commonwealth.
“The emergence and development of the Union State is inextricably linked with the formation of the CIS. It was within the framework of the Commonwealth that the integration processes between the newly independent states were restarted. The uniqueness of the CIS as an interstate association lies in its extraordinary flexibility. Taking into account various internal and external conditions, the Commonwealth States have decided on the optimal forms of expanding cooperation for each of them. And the CIS has acted as a common platform for multi-speed and multi-level integration. The creation of the Union State was the result of such integration – one of the first and most successful integration projects, which subsequently gave rise to the emergence of other allied entities in the CIS space, which undoubtedly influenced the strengthening of the Commonwealth itself,” Sergei Lebedev stressed
He noted that “for a quarter of a century, while remaining sovereign states within the CIS, Belarus and Russia have achieved a huge degree of fusion in various fields: together they conquer outer space, develop the aviation industry and mechanical engineering, transport and logistics infrastructure, energy, including nuclear, implement joint projects to modernize the gas transportation system, carry out the policy of technological sovereignty and digitalization. The business and investment climate is consistently improving, coordinated financial, monetary, and tax policies are being implemented, regulatory harmonization continues, and additional steps are being taken to increase industrial cooperation. There is no customs and border control between the countries, so Belarusians and Russians can freely move around the Union State using internal passports.
Of course, economic issues are at the center of cooperation between Russia and Belarus. And here, perhaps, there are no areas in which active cooperation would not be conducted. This made it possible to ease the sanctions pressure and strengthen the economies of the two fraternal countries. Such a strategic partnership is primarily due to common traditional values, geographical proximity, complementarity of economies, industrial ties, and multifaceted interregional cooperation. Although, as our presidents recognize, in some positions, economic cooperation requires additional detail and elaboration in order to increase positive dynamics.
The experience of Union construction in many areas deserves close attention in the CIS space. Today we see that the successful implementation of such landmark joint projects as the Belarusian NPP is already being studied by other CIS partners. We hope that in the near future there will be even more such breakthrough symbols of cooperation. For example, the Moscow–Minsk high-speed railway already being designed in our space will also become the first interstate transport connection of such a technological level.
Along with the issues of economic integration, security issues are given priority within the framework of the Union State: Belarus and Russia have created a single defense space in order to jointly confront new challenges and threats. We can safely say that the integration cooperation between the two countries shows not only healthy economic pragmatism, but also an understanding of the expediency of a military-political alliance based on the Security Concept of the Union State, which the Presidents of Belarus and Russia approved at a meeting of the Supreme State Council on December 6, 2024. Thus, mutual allied obligations to ensure the defense, protection of the sovereignty, independence and constitutional order of Russia and Belarus, the integrity and inviolability of the territory and the external border of the Union State are now more clearly defined. This approach is at the heart of the work on ensuring security in other integration associations in the Commonwealth.
As part of a number of international organizations such as the CIS, CSTO, SCO and BRICS, Russia and Belarus are actively involved in the formation of a new multipolar world order. The key area of activity of the Union State in this regard is the development and promotion of common approaches to the burning issues on the international agenda.
Cooperation in the humanitarian dimension is quite fruitful for the CIS member states. In this regard, the Union State has achieved considerable success. The work on creating a truly unified educational and scientific space, addressing issues of medical care and other vectors of cooperation is already yielding noticeable results. Belarus and Russia have made significant progress in ensuring truly equal rights for their citizens. And this is a good example of how productive the fullest disclosure of the potential of cooperation in the humanitarian sphere can be, which is an example for other member countries of the Commonwealth.
There are always special, sacred topics on our agenda. Next May, Belarusians and Russians, together with other peoples of the former USSR, and all those who share our values, will celebrate the 80th anniversary of the Great Victory. I consider it my duty to note that 2025 has been declared in the Commonwealth the Year of the 80th anniversary of Victory in the Great Patriotic War – the Year of Peace and Unity in the Fight against Nazism. This holiday is an important part of the common history of all the peoples of the CIS countries, who honor historical memory, jointly counteract attempts to falsify history and glorify fascism. It is our sacred duty to continue to do everything so that future generations do not forget about the price they managed to defend peace and freedom.
Today, we can say with confidence that the Union State has taken place and demonstrates the success of this unique interstate association. It has become an example of genuine alliance and strategic partnership between the peoples of the two fraternal countries. The Republic of Belarus and the Russian Federation successfully coordinate their actions in the international arena, jointly strengthen their defense capabilities, and complement each other in the economy. A common humanitarian, social, cultural and educational space has been created, and citizens of the two countries are not separated by borders, visas, or customs. I am confident that, taking into account the age-old friendship, kinship of historical destinies and common vital interests, the development of Belarusian-Russian relations will be consistently and qualitatively continued for the benefit of not only the peoples of the two countries, but also all countries of the Commonwealth of Independent States,” the CIS Secretary General summed up.
