Commonwealth aid: Putin is ready to deploy Oreshnik in Belarus in 2025
Russia is ready to deploy the newest missile system "Oreshnik" in Belarus in the second half of 2025, said Vladimir Putin at a meeting of the Supreme State Council of the Union State in Minsk on December 6. This will be possible as the serial production of the complexes in Russia and the arrival of the systems to the Strategic Missile Forces (SMF). At the same time, Minsk will determine the targets for the "Oreshnik," despite the fact that the complex will be part of the Strategic Missile Forces of the Russian Armed Forces. Also on this day, the leaders of the two countries signed a treaty on security guarantees between Moscow and Minsk, which involves the use of Russian nuclear weapons to protect the sovereignty of the Union State. What else the presidents agreed on - in the material "Izvestia".
Vladimir Putin made a working visit to Minsk
December 6, Vladimir Putin is working in Minsk. The presidential board landed at about 14:00 at the airport of the Belarusian capital, where Vladimir Putin was already met with bread and salt. On this day, together with the head of Belarus, Alexander Lukashenko, he planned to hold an anniversary meeting of the Supreme State Council of the Union State. It was timed to coincide with the 25th anniversary of the Treaty on the Establishment of the Union State - a document that in 1999 became a symbol of a new stage in the unity of the peoples of Russia and Belarus.
Alexander Lukashenko was waiting for Vladimir Putin at the Palace of Independence. Immediately after the protocol photographing, the presidents and heads of government of the two countries Mikhail Mishustin and Roman Golovchenko talked "on their feet," and then went to the main hall. There on the tables waiting for them was a commemorative medal "For Contribution to the Development of the Union State" specially created for the date. It is made in gold, it depicts the flags of Russia and Belarus, as well as the inscription "Union State" in Russian and Belarusian languages.
December 6, 2024. Russian President Vladimir Putin, right, and Belarusian Prime Minister Roman Golovchenko meeting at the airport in Minsk.
- Today we can confidently state that in 1999 our calculation was correct. Only in the Union "twin" we were able to realize all the accumulated experience and potential to the fullest extent on the principles of mutual trust and partnership. They are based on a common language and scientific and technical school, similar mentality, cultural traditions, our common history," said the Belarusian leader, opening the jubilee session as chairman.
Vladimir Putin noted a clear improvement of integration in the socio-economic, humanitarian spheres, as well as in the unification of legislation of the two countries. In fact, this brings tangible benefits to the citizens of the states and means the correctness of the chosen course for the formation of a single economic, humanitarian and defense process.
On the Treaty on Security Guarantees of the Union State
One of the main results of the meeting was the signing of the Treaty on Security Guarantees of the Union State, which brings relations between Minsk and Moscow to an unprecedented level, said the President of Belarus. It will prevent violation of the territorial integrity of Belarus and Russia, preserve sovereignty and form guarantees of peaceful life for citizens, he said. Thus, the signed Russian-Belarusian treaty allows the use of Russia's tactical nuclear weapons deployed in Belarus, said Vladimir Putin.
- It (the treaty - "Izvestia") defines mutual allied obligations to ensure defense, protection of sovereignty, independence and constitutional order of Russia and Belarus, integrity and inviolability of territories and the external border of the Union State, with the use of all available forces and means. We are talking, among other things, about Russian tactical nuclear weapons, located, at the suggestion of the President of Belarus, on the territory of the Belarusian Republic," said Vladimir Putin.
Russian President Vladimir Putin and Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko (right)
Allied cooperation is impossible without in-depth cooperation in the security sphere, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told Izvestia. Since this sphere is an important space of alliance between Russia and Belarus.
The joint security concept is also most likely to reflect key risks and threats and algorithms for overcoming them, in particular - more effective coordination in the fight against terrorism, drug trafficking, illegal migration, illegal arms trafficking, smuggling, believes Denis Denisov, an expert at the Financial University under the Government of the Russian Federation. "It is logical that there will be separate blocks devoted to sanctions and information warfare," he told Izvestia.
Alexander Lukashenko noted that the intention of Moscow and Minsk to sign this treaty "has overly excited our partners in the West." "Well, that's probably not a bad thing," he retorted.
The deployment of "Oreshnik" on the territory of Belarus
The concern in Russia today is the situation in Ukraine, where Western countries are deliberately escalating tensions, the Russian president said. He is sure that such irresponsible policy is pushing the world to the brink of a global conflict. Alexander Lukashenko had similar feelings: in his statement after the meeting, he expressed concern about the situation on the western borders, especially on the part of Poland and Lithuania.
- We assess it as a greater danger than from the warring Ukraine; not only Polish and Lithuanian troops are deployed within 15 kilometers from the border with Belarus, but also NATO armed forces of other states, including Germany, are being pulled in," he emphasized.
Against this background, the Belarusian president asked Vladimir Putin to deploy "Oreshnik" on the territory of the republic. Alexander Lukashenko suggested that at the initial stage it should be serviced by Russian specialists.
- In the meantime, you will teach how to use this weapon, if it's done, so that the Russian specialists could service and launch "Oreshnik" war charges at certain targets. You know how to do this, you have demonstrated it recently. It would significantly strengthen the defense of our Union and, above all, the Belarusian territory," he said.
At the same time, if the Russian leadership decides to deploy "Oreshnik" in the republic, its possible targets should be determined by Minsk, insisted Alexander Lukashenko. The Russian leader responded to his Belarusian counterpart immediately and announced his readiness to deploy the missile system on the territory of the republic. Targets for "Oreshnik" will be determined by Minsk, but it will be part of the Russian Armed Forces' Strategic Missile Forces.
- As for the possibility of deployment of such, let's say, formidable weapons as "Oreshnik" on the territory of Belarus: since we have signed a treaty on security guarantees with the use of all available forces and means, I consider the deployment of such complexes as "Oreshnik" on the territory of the Republic of Belarus possible," said the head of the Russian Federation.
According to him, "Oreshnik" can be deployed in Belarus as early as in the second half of 2025, as the serial production of the complexes in Russia is increasing, as well as the arrival of these systems in the Strategic Missile Forces. The complexes will be supplied to the Russian Federation, and in parallel - to Belarus, Vladimir Putin explained. And the cost of deployment of "Oreshnik" in the republic will be minimal, he specified.
As explained by military expert Dmitry Kornev, the delivery of "Oreshnik" to Belarus will not be considered a violation of the international treaty on non-proliferation of nuclear weapons. The President has previously explained that the new complex is not such a violation.
Russia is interested in the transfer of "Oreshnik" to Belarus, because it will put our missile systems closer to Europe, the expert believes. A few months will be enough to train the Belarusian military to use "Oreshnik," because they already know how to work with Russian-made missile systems, says Dmitri Kornev.
- "I don't rule out that this is also a hint and an unnecessary reminder to the U.S. that we can deploy our missiles not only in Russia, but also abroad," military expert Viktor Litovkin told Izvestia. - During Donald Trump's last presidency, they withdrew from the Intermediate-Range and Shorter-Range Missile Treaty, and later demonstrated that Tomahawk missiles can be used from ground-based missile defense installations that are deployed in Europe - in Romania and Poland. Our statement is therefore another warning.
Belarus already has Iskander-M complexes with nuclear warheads, the experts reminded.
- The range of the complex is 500 kilometers," said Viktor Litovkin. - This is quite enough to keep Poles, Lithuanians and others in line. Belarusian airplanes capable of carrying nuclear warheads are also based there. We have opened a nuclear umbrella over Belarus. We have even included in the country's nuclear doctrine a clause on the use of nuclear weapons in the event of an attack on the Union State.
On November 21, Vladimir Putin announced the Russian Armed Forces' response to Western long-range weapons strikes on Russian territory with a test of one of the newest medium-range Oreshnik missile systems. It was used in a non-nuclear hypersonic configuration: the projectile attacks targets at a speed of Mach 10, or 2.5-3 kilometers per second. Modern air defense means are not capable of intercepting such a missile.
Trade turnover and import substitution in the Union State
Despite external pressure, the countries provide each other with genuine allied support in world affairs, the Russian leader said. Thus, Moscow and Minsk are working together to minimize the damage from sanctions. According to Alexander Lukashenko, Russia and Belarus have become stronger as a result: they managed to preserve the basic sectors of the economy and not to disrupt the financial systems.
- The scale of bilateral industrial cooperation is growing with a focus on import substitution and increasing the share of products with high added value, which is very important in modern conditions, and even more important - for the future," said the head of the Russian Federation. - As some colleagues from the Russian government tell me, if only nothing (Western sanctions. - Izvestia) were canceled.
In this sense, external restrictions play a rather positive role, said Vladimir Putin.
- "The Russian side allocates serious financial resources, which allows us to effectively build a "safety cushion" at the appropriate level and economic stability in such import-substituting industries as machine building, machine tools, aircraft, shipbuilding, electronics and IT-technology," said "Izvestia" head of the supreme coordinating council of the union "Republican Confederation of Entrepreneurship" Andrei Kopytok.
Now Belarus, according to the estimates of the Russian leader, occupies the fourth line in the list of the world trade partners of the Russian Federation. Russia accounts for more than half of the Belarusian foreign trade balance, while the country has invested more than $4 billion in the economy of the republic, said Vladimir Putin. Thus, the trade turnover between the countries may well reach $60 billion this year, both presidents believe, as it is steadily increasing. Last year it reached $55 billion.
Alexander Lukashenko sees the prospect in expanding the delivery of Belarusian exports through the Northern Sea Route. He emphasized that businesses from the republic have already tried to export their cargoes via this route. "It turns out well," he added the leader.
- The sanctions regime, which the West has imposed against Russia and Belarus, inevitably brings our countries closer together. "In this situation, Belarus has only one way to develop effectively - to keep its sales market in Russia, get cheap energy from there, use Russian ports to transport its export cargoes, and use the Russian labor market for its citizens," Bogdan Bezpalko, a member of the Council on Interethnic Relations under the Russian president, told Izvestia.
Cancellation of roaming between Russia and Belarus
The second document signed by Vladimir Putin and Alexander Lukashenko was an agreement on the formation of a unified electricity market. The Russian president is confident that its creation will reduce prices for end consumers in Russia and Belarus. Minsk, in turn, expects the launch of common energy markets of oil and gas with Russia as soon as possible.
In addition, the Union State is systematically working on the abolition of roaming - from April 1, 2022, there is no fee for incoming calls in the Union State. This time Vladimir Putin announced the abolition of roaming between Russia and Belarus from March 1, 2025.
- "Our Mincifers, the relevant Belarusian competent agencies have worked very hard, including working with mobile operators, and here, of course, the economics of mobile operators will also have to be taken into account," Deputy Prime Minister Alexei Overchuk told Izvestia.
They also touched upon the patriotic agenda, in particular, the celebration of the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Great Patriotic War, which will be the key event of 2025. Thus, Russian and Belarusian cities will host a joint procession of the "Immortal Regiment" and "Belarus Remembers. Alexander Lukashenko will come to Moscow for the parade. Also invited are parade units of the Belarusian military.
Separately, Vladimir Putin said he was waiting for the president of the republic on December 25-26 in St. Petersburg at the informal summit of the CIS.
Russian President Vladimir Putin and Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko (right)
