MINSK, 27 October (BelTA) – It’s time we revived the Soviet practice when Belarus was responsible for supplying necessary goods to a number of major cities and regions of Russia, Belarusian President Aleksandr Lukashenko said at a meeting with Governor of St. Petersburg Alexander Beglov in Minsk on 27 October, BelTA has learned.

“It’s time we returned to the Soviet practice when Belarus was responsible for Kaliningrad, St. Petersburg, Moscow Oblast and partially Moscow (it is huge, especially now, I think we would hardly cope with such a gigantic volume). But we must cooperate first of all with these regions. The responsibility was that everything that was not available in Leningrad and the region, especially in Kaliningrad, we were obliged to produce and supply,” the Belarusian leader said addressing Russian Ambassador to Belarus Boris Gryzlov, who was present at the meeting.

“Our cooperation with St. Petersburg and Leningrad Oblast should be held up as an example,” Aleksandr Lukashenko emphasized. “This should generally be a model for our cooperation. Thank God we have achieved this under your leadership of the city. We are moving in this direction. Just speak more frankly about where we are falling short. We will respond to that very quickly. This is very important to us.”

“You know our capabilities perfectly well. Be assured that we will deliver on everything we have promised. Both in the field of mechanical engineering and elevator repair, and food. We must satisfy the needs of Leningrad wherever we can. I am very glad that the President of Russia embraces this formula – that we must cooperate closely in this regard,” the head of state said. “We hosted Andrei Vorobyov [Governor of Moscow Oblast Region] in June 2026. He has a very good attitude toward our cooperation. But I remember that we have neighbors, namely Bryansk, Smolensk, Pskov. Neighbors are given by God. If we can help with something, we will help.”

Aleksandr Lukashenko recalled his instruction to keep under control matters concerning any assistance these Russian regions may need. “Fuel, other issues, security. If our help is needed, we will help. We say so openly,. Those are not strangers there. Everything is intertwined there,” the Belarusian leader emphasized.

The president, in this connection, recalled how at a recent meeting with the governor of Bryansk Oblast he jokingly said: “We still need to figure out whose Bryansk Oblast is." “Then they started spinning it that I was almost demanding that Boris Vyacheslavovich [Russian Ambassador to Belarus Boris Gryzlov] hand over Bryansk Oblast. No, I have absolutely no such intention,” the head of state noted. "It is still unknown what will happen to various borders in the near future, in a few years. Maybe people will stop recognizing borders at all, will move freely around the world. God willing, that is how it will be. The Lord will help. Therefore, I have no such fixation on whose land it is. People live wherever they choose. There’s no interfering. Our human life will lead us where it needs to. Therefore, I understand that people in Bryansk, Smolensk and Pskov are our kin people (these regions are the neighbors to your region too). We are always open to them. The doors are simply wide open, and we must certainly support and help them.”

Aleksandr Lukashenko noted that Belarus has a practice of naming point men for cooperation with a particular region or country. Head of the Belarus President Administration Dmitry Kruto, who was also present at the meeting, is a point man for cooperation with Russia in general. He shares the view that cooperation between Belarus and St. Petersburg can be considered exemplary and held up as an example.

The head of state drew attention to the fact that historical ties, among other things, underlie such close interaction. Both peoples endured very tragic events and suffered considerably during the Great Patriotic War. After the war, many people from Leningrad came to Belarus and stayed here to live. This applies especially to representatives of the scientific community, who subsequently helped to set up national scientific schools. “Our people are educated and intelligent. I always tell the Russian president: if Belarusians take after anyone, it is Leningraders. They are generally the same people,” Aleksandr Lukashenko remarked.

The president also commented on the program of Alexander Beglov’s visit to Belarus and his planned trip to Brest Fortress. The head of state emphasized the particular significance of both the place itself and the visit to it. “To honor the memory of the heroes of Brest Fortress is very important. It is a good example for our Ukrainian friends and comrades. Sooner or later people will understand what they may lose and what they are losing in Ukraine. This example of Brest Fortress… Everyone fought there. Most of all there were Russians, Belarusians. Ukrainians were among defenders too. There were also people from Central Asia,” Aleksandr Lukashenko said.

“Such an element of your trip is very important for the present and the future,” the head of state said as he addressed the governor of St. Petersburg.

Trade and economic cooperation between Belarus and St Petersburg is growing steadily. In January–August 2026, mutual trade exceeded $1.8 billion, 10 % more than in the same period last year. The balance is positive for Belarus – domestic exports to the Russian city were almost $636 million more than imports. The main exports were petroleum products, cheeses and cottage cheese, beef, butter, poultry meat and by–products. Among the main imported items were engines and electrical generators, frozen fish, coffee and bananas, polyesters and polyacetals, and epoxy resins.

The mutual trade for 2025 reached almost $2.7 billion, the highest figure since 2021. Compared with 2024, it grew by almost 8 %.