Lukashenko urges EAEU countries to remain committed to common market
02.10.2026
MINSK (
BelTA) – Belarusian President Aleksandr Lukashenko urged the countries of the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) to remain committed to the common market, a significant part of which is the Russian market, as he met with the heads of government delegations participating in the Eurasian Intergovernmental Council meeting in Minsk on 2 October, BelTA has learned.
"The main thing I want to ask you today is about the Russian market and your states. This is the foundation. We conduct 80 % of our trade with you [post-Soviet countries]. Therefore, I ask you, do not rush to abandon this. Believe me, we are not welcome anywhere else,” the president said. “So, there is no need to cast aside what yields benefits today. Do not leave this common market.”
Aleksandr Lukashenko recalled a conversation with Russian President Vladimir Putin about the situation during a brutal winter in Uzbekistan, when the country needed additional natural gas supplies. A solution was found with the help of Russia and Kazakhstan.
“Who did Uzbekistan turn to? Russia. And a solution to the problem was found – through Kazakhstan. They supplied both Kazakhstan to cover its power deficits and Uzbekistan. Where in the West could we be treated like this? Nowhere. Therefore, do not lose what we have,” the head of state said, citing a concrete example. “As someone who has worked for a long time, I advise you: it is up to you which course to follow, but do not throw away what gives results today. And the result is our common market. If you find happiness somewhere else (and if you do, you will see for yourselves), then make a decision. But so far, we have no such happiness anywhere on the side.”
The head of state also focused on how cooperation and integration allowed Belarus and Russia to successfully withstand draconian sanctions by developing industrial cooperation: “Everything you saw [at the INNOPROM. Belarus expo] is not only because we did not cast aside something from Soviet times. Half of these products like tractors and others are Russian. This is considering the metal, components, and assemblies that we buy in Russia and in your countries. We have the technologies, but you have the resources. We do not have enough to produce this on our own. This is what integration is all about. By imposing sanctions, the West was left to regret it. Somehow we survived. Even under these conditions of war.”
The president urged the meeting participants to think about this philosophical issue: “Think about what I have said. Do not cast aside what brings you benefits today. Over time, something will be resolved, something will happen due to the global tectonic shifts that are taking place on the international arena.”
Speaking about Belarus, Aleksandr Lukashenko pointed out that the country has preserved and developed many industries since Soviet times. “We have a wide range of skills, all stemming from the Soviet era. While our economy is not the most powerful, the technologies we have are needed by most countries in the world today. We offer these technologies. We don’t just provide them, we train people as well,” the Belarusian leader said.
“We have not severed the roots from the times when the foundations of our economy were being laid. That is why we have achieved certain success in mechanical engineering, and there are no problems in construction either – we produce everything necessary, from cement and bricks to the latest technologies. The same goes for agriculture. This year, we plan to sell $10 billion worth of agricultural products, which represents a solid volume for Belarus,” the president stated.
Aleksandr Lukashenko emphasized that Belarus is primarily committed to the post-Soviet market. At the same time, the Belarusian leader has developed good relations with the Muslim world, as well as with major states in Southeast Asia and Africa. “No matter how difficult it is, we are trying to make our way there step by step. We do not have a giant economy like, say, the Russian Federation. As I say, we don’t really need that much,” the Belarusian leader said.
"The main thing I want to ask you today is about the Russian market and your states. This is the foundation. We conduct 80 % of our trade with you [post-Soviet countries]. Therefore, I ask you, do not rush to abandon this. Believe me, we are not welcome anywhere else,” the president said. “So, there is no need to cast aside what yields benefits today. Do not leave this common market.”
Aleksandr Lukashenko recalled a conversation with Russian President Vladimir Putin about the situation during a brutal winter in Uzbekistan, when the country needed additional natural gas supplies. A solution was found with the help of Russia and Kazakhstan.
“Who did Uzbekistan turn to? Russia. And a solution to the problem was found – through Kazakhstan. They supplied both Kazakhstan to cover its power deficits and Uzbekistan. Where in the West could we be treated like this? Nowhere. Therefore, do not lose what we have,” the head of state said, citing a concrete example. “As someone who has worked for a long time, I advise you: it is up to you which course to follow, but do not throw away what gives results today. And the result is our common market. If you find happiness somewhere else (and if you do, you will see for yourselves), then make a decision. But so far, we have no such happiness anywhere on the side.”
The head of state also focused on how cooperation and integration allowed Belarus and Russia to successfully withstand draconian sanctions by developing industrial cooperation: “Everything you saw [at the INNOPROM. Belarus expo] is not only because we did not cast aside something from Soviet times. Half of these products like tractors and others are Russian. This is considering the metal, components, and assemblies that we buy in Russia and in your countries. We have the technologies, but you have the resources. We do not have enough to produce this on our own. This is what integration is all about. By imposing sanctions, the West was left to regret it. Somehow we survived. Even under these conditions of war.”
The president urged the meeting participants to think about this philosophical issue: “Think about what I have said. Do not cast aside what brings you benefits today. Over time, something will be resolved, something will happen due to the global tectonic shifts that are taking place on the international arena.”
Speaking about Belarus, Aleksandr Lukashenko pointed out that the country has preserved and developed many industries since Soviet times. “We have a wide range of skills, all stemming from the Soviet era. While our economy is not the most powerful, the technologies we have are needed by most countries in the world today. We offer these technologies. We don’t just provide them, we train people as well,” the Belarusian leader said.
“We have not severed the roots from the times when the foundations of our economy were being laid. That is why we have achieved certain success in mechanical engineering, and there are no problems in construction either – we produce everything necessary, from cement and bricks to the latest technologies. The same goes for agriculture. This year, we plan to sell $10 billion worth of agricultural products, which represents a solid volume for Belarus,” the president stated.
Aleksandr Lukashenko emphasized that Belarus is primarily committed to the post-Soviet market. At the same time, the Belarusian leader has developed good relations with the Muslim world, as well as with major states in Southeast Asia and Africa. “No matter how difficult it is, we are trying to make our way there step by step. We do not have a giant economy like, say, the Russian Federation. As I say, we don’t really need that much,” the Belarusian leader said.