The Russian president met with his main ally amid intense diplomatic activity in Moscow, marked by contacts from Washington and the Holy See with Russian officials
The meeting took place at a time of intense diplomatic activity in Moscow. Days earlier, Gallagher made a four-day visit to Russia and held meetings with Russian Foreign Minister Serguéi Lavrov and presidential advisor Yuri Ushakov.
The President of Russia, Vladimir Putin, received the dictator of Belarus, Aleksandr Lukashenko, this Saturday at his residence in Novo-Ogariovo during an unofficial visit by the latter to Russian territory. The meeting took place after recent visits to Moscow by the Vatican's Secretary for Relations with States, Paul Richard Gallagher, and the CIA director, John Ratcliffe.
Lukashenko stated during the meeting that Russia and Belarus must jointly face the difficulties arising from the current international scenario. “Moscow and Minsk will face all difficulties together, through cooperation”, asserted the Belarusian dictator, in a new demonstration of the close political relationship between both governments.
Putin, for his part, particularly highlighted the evolution of economic ties between the two countries. According to the Russian president, trade between Russia and Belarus reached approximately USD 52 billion last year, while in the first half of 2026 it reportedly recorded a growth of 12.5%.
The Kremlin chief also noted that Russian direct investments in Belarus amount to about USD 4.5 billion and that there are around 2,500 companies with Russian participation operating in the neighboring country. Putin also emphasized the importance of deepening cooperation in technological and high-tech sectors.
At the same time, the CIA director, John Ratcliffe, made a surprise trip to Moscow and held talks with Russian intelligence officials. The Kremlin confirmed that Ratcliffe did not meet directly with Putin, although the Russian president was subsequently informed about the results of those contacts.
Lukashenko's visit is particularly significant as the dictatorship of Belarus is one of Moscow's main political and military allies and has supported the Kremlin during the war against Ukraine.
The temporal coincidence between the visits from the Vatican and the CIA and the meeting between Putin and Lukashenko does not necessarily imply a direct relationship between the events. However, the overall diplomatic movements reflect the intense international activity surrounding Moscow, as contacts continue to address the war in Ukraine and the growing tensions between Russia and the West.
