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President of the Republic of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko: Mr President, as per tradition, you have the floor.

President of Russia Vladimir Putin: Colleagues, friends.

Once again, welcome. Now we are meeting in the expanded format. I would like to thank everyone for responding to our invitation and coming to St Petersburg, Russia.

We have just discussed current issues fairly extensively at the restricted-format meeting. Now, we are welcoming our colleagues and friends who have joined us and who show interest in the work of the Eurasian Economic Council in various formats. I believe that it will be useful both for the Council and for the states that, once again, show interest in our cooperation.

We have stated that participation in the EAEU has yielded significant dividends, including accelerated growth of industrial output and the economy in general while also expanding possibilities for contacts between our peoples. The overall effect is fairly positive.

Of course, each state should take a closer look at all the aspects of our cooperation. This is what the EAEU Chairman will tell us about, and Belarus currently holds the chairmanship. I am happy to pass the floor to President of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko.

Alexander Lukashenko: Friends,

In the restricted-format meeting, we agreed that each head of delegation and head of state would share their position on the issues under discussion. Allow me, therefore, to open this discussion in my capacity as Chairman of our Union.

Today, in keeping with an established tradition, we are meeting ahead of the New Year in a broad circle of like-minded partners, in the hospitable northern capital of Russia, St Petersburg. We are taking stock of our cooperation and refining our objectives for the future. Such traditions clearly demonstrate the maturity and viability of our Union. A solid foundation has been formed for an association of countries that share common goals and a common understanding of how to achieve them.

Once again, I would like to thank President of Russia Vladimir Putin for the invitation and for creating the conditions for productive work, as he traditionally does.

I am pleased to welcome in this hall our friends – representatives of the EAEU observer states – as well as the high-level delegation from the Republic of Indonesia.

The growing interest of the Global Majority in partnership with our Union testifies to the relevance of the Eurasian integration model and underscores the role of our integration association as a pole of economic attraction, despite the shortcomings we discussed in the restricted-format meeting.

The outgoing year has been marked by our chairmanship. We sought to bring fresh momentum and a new vision of economic processes to the Union’s work. Belarusian initiatives were guided not by short-term considerations or national preferences, but by long-term priorities that are relevant to all member states. Belarus’s chairmanship coincided with the conclusion of the five-year development cycle of our economic union. Summarising the results of implementing the strategic guidelines for economic integration, we can state with confidence that, under conditions of enormous external pressure on our countries, the Union has not only preserved but strengthened its importance in enhancing the economic potential of its member states.

According to estimates, in 2020–2024 the Union’s gross domestic product grew by 11 percent, industrial output by 15 percent, and agricultural production by 10 percent. While unemployment across the Union stood at almost 6 percent in 2020, by 2024 it had fallen to around 3 percent. This year, the main economic indicators of the EAEU have continued to show positive dynamics. Wages are rising in all member states, and unemployment remains at a minimal level.

In 2025, a solid foundation was laid for a fundamentally new stage in the development of Eurasian economic integration. Today, we will sign the Action Plan for the implementation of the objectives set out in the Declaration on the Future Development of Economic Processes within the EAEU until 2030 and for the Period up to 2045, which we referred to at the Minsk forum as the EAEU 2.0 Action Plan. It is essential that this comprehensive roadmap genuinely provides our Union with clear guidance for moving forward.

I would like to dwell briefly on key aspects of our work.

First, industrial growth and technological development. In the next five-year period, EAEU countries will focus on creating a common space for cooperative interaction and on intensifying technological development. It is evident that the industrial potential of the EAEU is far from being fully utilised. I am confident that we are ready to implement concrete joint projects in key industries and technological sectors. Interest from the real sector of the economy in the financial support instruments offered within the EAEU continues to grow.

Second, cooperation in agriculture. Decisive steps are needed to reduce dependence on imports in this area to the level of statistical error. The farmers of the EAEU countries are capable not only of feeding our citizens, but also of securing a tangible position on the global food market. This requires persistence and strict technological discipline. Moreover, if within the EAEU we develop our own high-yield varieties of major agricultural crops and improve the state of pedigree livestock breeding, it will be extremely difficult for third countries to compete with us.

Third, strengthening the transport and logistics capacity. This is one of the priority areas for cooperation with the EAEU’s observer states. This year, work continued on the development of Eurasian transport corridors and routes, with significant attention given to the digitalisation of transport and the creation of opportunities for seamless movement. The development of relevant decisions on the platform of the Eurasian Economic Commission must be kept under special oversight.

Fourth, the functioning of the EAEU’s internal market. We will consistently pursue its effective and well-coordinated operation in the interests of member states’ economies, and expect further steps to be taken towards the creation of a common exchange-based commodity market of the EAEU.

Fifth, digital transformation. Throughout the year, close attention was paid to the implementation of the roadmap for creating favourable conditions for e-commerce and for developing modern product distribution channels. We have noted problems during our restricted-format meeting, but these issues are being addressed, and we are moving forward as far as possible. For digitalisation within the EAEU, this topic is of key importance. I am referring primarily to digital signatures, especially in the context of state procurement, the market for which in the Union’s countries, by the end of 2025, may exceed the level reached in 2024 (over $143 billion). Overall, the digital environment should make a tangible contribution to the competitiveness of our economies, rather than create additional barriers within the Union.

Sixth, the international dimension. During the year of its chairmanship, Belarus devoted particular attention to international issues and to positioning our Union in the external arena.

The Fourth Eurasian Economic Forum was successfully held in Minsk, and work continued on building a system of preferential trade agreements between the Union and third countries.

In June, Minsk hosted the signing of an Economic Partnership Agreement with the United Arab Emirates, as well as an interim trade agreement with Mongolia.

Today, we welcome a new partner – the Republic of Indonesia – with which the conclusion of an agreement is envisaged on the sidelines of this summit.

At present, we face the task of identifying a list of new partners, and there is no shortage of interested parties. I believe that among the countries of Africa and Asia there are many states friendly to us, trade ties with which are capable of strengthening the Union’s economic potential.

The voice of the Eurasian Economic Union is being heard with growing confidence on international platforms, from Geneva to New York. The main areas of the Union’s international activity for the coming year, which are being approved today, are intended to give additional momentum to this work.

Seventh, the humanitarian dimension. This year, we sought to enrich our agenda with humanitarian and social issues. The main areas of economic cooperation in sport have been approved, and today we will adopt the concept for the development of tourism. Going forward, we propose paying close attention to mutually beneficial cooperation in healthcare, education, culture and information exchange.

The central objective of our work is to create a comfortable environment for our citizens. The Union’s strength is reflected in simple and tangible matters: the absence of queues at borders; the ability to receive an education without barriers and the mutual recognition of qualification documents; access to medical care and mobile connection through roaming; and the ability to use traditional payment instruments without unjustified restrictions. There is still work to be done in this regard.

Colleagues,

Not everything set out in our chairmanship programme has been completed. I am confident that what has proven useful will also be taken up by the next chairmanship, which will pass to Kazakhstan.

Given that very little time remains until the start of 2026, I would like to wish everyone present and all citizens of our countries good health, peace and wellbeing, especially the peoples of these countries.

Thank you for your attention. I now give the floor to the Prime Minister of the Republic of Armenia Nikol Pashinyan.

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Vladimir Putin: Dear friends,

As colleagues who have spoken before me have noted, our cooperation within the Eurasian Economic Union is developing very successfully. In practice, it contributes to the economic growth of the participating countries, increases business revenues and, most importantly, improves the quality of life and wellbeing of our people.

This year, our economies are demonstrating confident positive dynamics. Aggregate GDP is growing. I believe that Kyrgyzstan is the clear leader here, with a notable GDP growth of over 10 percent. This is, of course, a very strong result. We congratulate both the President of Kyrgyzstan and his entire team on this achievement.

As for the Union as a whole, total agricultural output has increased by over 2 percent, retail trade by 3 percent, and construction by 4.7 percent. This year, the share of Russia’s non-energy exports to EAEU countries has grown by almost 20 percent, reaching $32 billion out of a total trade turnover of $73 billion over the first ten months.

Within the Eurasian Economic Union, a stable payment infrastructure has been established that is independent of external influence. Moreover, virtually all mutual settlements are carried out in national currencies, whose share in commercial transactions between EAEU states stands at 93 percent.

I would like to emphasise in particular that we have implemented a five-year strategy of Eurasian economic integration. As a result, many trade barriers have been eliminated, non-tariff regulation and administrative procedures have been harmonised, coordination in customs and tax policy has been improved, and a mechanism to support cooperative projects has been launched. Further integration work should be built on the previously approved Declaration on the Future Development of Economic Processes within the Eurasian Economic Union until 2030 and for the Period up to 2045 – Eurasian Economic Path, and today a roadmap for its implementation will be adopted.

In addition, a number of critically important integration decisions have been submitted to the Supreme Council for consideration. They concern the pursuit of a coordinated macroeconomic policy, improving the effectiveness of technical and veterinary and sanitary oversight, and liberalising cooperation terms in the construction sector.

I would also like to mention the draft order on further steps towards the formation of a common financial market within the Eurasian Union. This concerns one of the key areas of the integration agenda: facilitating investors’ access to securities and stock exchanges across the entire EAEU space, creating optimal conditions for businesses and enterprises to access loans and other banking products, as well as insurance services.

In this context, I would recall that within our organisation the Eurasian Reinsurance Company has been established and is in operation. It is backed by substantial capital and is intended to support trade transactions between our countries. Its potential should be utilised more fully.

Another integration priority is strengthening the transport framework of the EAEU. Starting next year, the EAEU will begin the gradual introduction of navigation seals, which make it possible to track cargo movements across the territories of the member states in real time, ensuring maximum transparency of logistics operations.

We also propose that our EAEU partners take a closer look at the experience of using electronic transport consignment notes within the Union State of Russia and Belarus. Their application has significantly simplified freight transportation and helped reduce costs related to the transportation and inspection of goods.

Tourism is another promising area of integration. The Concept for the Development of Cooperation in this field, which we are adopting today, sets out concrete benchmarks for increasing tourist flows within the Eurasian Union. It also envisages the creation of new cross-border and international tourist routes.

Colleagues,

An increasing number of countries and multilateral organisations are expressing their readiness to build relations with our association. The circle of the EAEU’s preferential foreign trade partners continues to expand.

As our colleagues have already mentioned, and I will allow myself to reiterate, this year the free trade agreement with Iran entered into force. New trade agreements have been concluded with the United Arab Emirates and Mongolia. Today, a similar document will be signed between the EAEU and Indonesia. It will establish a free trade regime for more than 90 percent of goods and around 95 of mutual trade turnover. This opens up strong prospects for deepening multifaceted cooperation between the five member countries and one of the largest and most dynamically developing economies in Asia, and indeed in the world as a whole. Conditions for access of products manufactured in the Eurasian Union to the vast markets of the Asia-Pacific region will improve significantly.

Overall, the EAEU’s common economic space, the preferential agreements we have already concluded, and the CIS free trade zone together cover a vast market of 730 million consumers. At the same time, work is under way on a preferential agreement with India – a country pursuing a sovereign foreign policy, a reliable partner with a market of 1.5 billion people and a GDP of around $4 trillion. The first round of consultations on the text of the agreement took place a month ago. I would like to note that during our recent state visit to New Delhi, the Indian side expressed its readiness to step up the process of coordinating this important document.

Today, the Supreme Council is also considering a decision to launch negotiations with Uzbekistan on an agreement on the exchange of information regarding goods and vehicles crossing the EAEU’s customs borders. This is a natural step, as all EAEU states maintain close neighbourly relations and intensive trade and economic ties with our Uzbekistani friends.

In conclusion, I would like to take this opportunity to express my gratitude to President Lukashenko and to all our Belarusian friends and colleagues for their constructive and proactive approach to fulfilling the EAEU chairmanship and for the effective organisation of our joint work over the past year.

I would also like to wish every success to President Tokayev and to all our Kazakhstani colleagues, who will assume the EAEU chairmanship on January 1. We will, of course, be ready to provide all necessary and desired assistance.

And, of course, like the colleagues who spoke before me, I would like to wish you all a happy New Year.

Thank you for your attention.

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