Lukashenko congratulates Putin on 74th birthday, praises Moscow ties
In short
Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko congratulated Russian President Vladimir Putin on his 74th birthday, praising his patriotism, strategic vision and decisiveness and saying he values Putin’s drive to strengthen Minsk-Moscow ties, citing expanding trade and joint projects. The Kremlin said Putin would spend the day on work, including international phone calls, and that Xi Jinping and Kim Jong Un were among leaders who sent congratulations. RIA Novosti headlined Lukashenko’s account of the qualities he values in Putin.
Read the full story 1 min read
Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko congratulated Russian President Vladimir Putin on his birthday, praising Putin’s patriotism, strategic vision and decisiveness. In the message, quoted by Interfax, Lukashenko said those qualities help Putin consistently defend national interests, preserve citizens’ unity and keep Russia on a path of sovereign development. RIA Novosti headlined its report by saying Lukashenko described the qualities he values in Putin. [ 1 , 3 ]
Lukashenko said he highly values Putin’s unchanged disposition to strengthen brotherly ties between Minsk and Moscow. He cited intensive Belarus-Russia dialogue, expanding trade and economic cooperation and the implementation of joint projects as confirmation of the two states’ common aspirations and the relevance of union building. He expressed confidence that the trust between the two presidents would allow them to continue speaking from common positions on bilateral and international issues, and wished Putin health, happiness and success in his work for the benefit of Russia and its residents. [ 1 , 2 ]
Vedomosti reported, citing Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov, that Putin would spend his birthday on work. A series of international telephone calls was planned, primarily on the occasion of his birthday, Peskov said in the morning, adding that the main thing for the president that day was that his family and close ones were congratulating him. Peskov said other events were on Putin’s schedule, with the Kremlin to announce details later. Presidential aide Yuri Ushakov said many leaders had already sent Putin congratulatory telegrams, including Chinese President Xi Jinping and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un. Putin turned 74 on October 7. [ 2 ]
Why it matters
The messages are a routine diplomatic courtesy, but they come from two allied leaders and restate the Belarus-Russia union agenda, including trade and joint projects. Vedomosti’s account of congratulatory telegrams from China and North Korea also shows the diplomatic attention around Putin’s birthday, though the documents report no decisions or announcements.
Key facts
- Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko sent birthday congratulations to Russian President Vladimir Putin on October 7. [ 1 , 2 ]
- Putin turned 74 on October 7, Vedomosti reported. [ 2 ]
- Lukashenko praised Putin’s patriotism, strategic vision and decisiveness, saying they help defend national interests, preserve citizens’ unity and follow a path of sovereign development. [ 1 ]
- Lukashenko said he highly values Putin’s disposition to strengthen brotherly ties between Minsk and Moscow and cited intensive dialogue, expanding trade and economic cooperation and joint projects. [ 1 , 2 ]
- Lukashenko expressed confidence that trust between the two presidents will allow them to keep common positions on bilateral and international issues, and wished Putin health, happiness and success. [ 1 , 2 ]
- Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Putin would spend his birthday on work, including a series of international phone calls, mainly timed to the occasion. [ 2 ]
- Presidential aide Yuri Ushakov said many leaders had sent congratulatory telegrams, including China’s Xi Jinping and North Korea’s Kim Jong Un. [ 2 ]
- RIA Novosti headlined that Lukashenko described the qualities he values in Putin. [ 3 ]
Confirmed by several sources
Still unclear
- Which events are on Putin’s birthday schedule beyond international phone calls, and the full list of leaders who congratulated him. Reported only by Vedomosti, citing Kremlin officials Peskov and Ushakov; no other document in the set confirms the schedule or names more leaders.
- The text of RIA Novosti’s report on the qualities Lukashenko values in Putin. The outlet’s feed carried only a headline, so its specifics cannot be checked against the other documents.
What local media are saying
Timeline, local time
- Interfax publishes its report on Lukashenko’s birthday congratulations to Putin. [ 1 ]
- Vedomosti publishes its report, adding Kremlin statements about Putin’s working birthday and congratulations from foreign leaders. [ 2 ]
- RIA Novosti publishes a headline saying Lukashenko described the qualities he values in Putin. [ 3 ]