Lukashenko and Trump's representative are en route to Russia - what's the scoop?
In a significant development on August 1, 2025, President Alexander Lukashenko of Belarus visited Russia for a meeting with President Vladimir Putin. The focus of the meeting, held on Valaam Island, was a broad agenda of bilateral relations, ongoing cooperation projects, and the ongoing situation regarding Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
The day began with a religious service at Valaam Monastery, followed by discussions that underscored the importance of continuous dialogue and cooperation between the two leaders and countries. During the joint statements, Putin emphasized the opportunity to discuss current affairs and issues that arise within their extensive cooperation, with trade turnover between Belarus and Russia exceeding $50 billion and many projects underway.
Both leaders addressed the slow pace of Russian military advances in Ukraine, with Lukashenko attributing the slow progress to Putin’s humanitarian concern for the Ukrainian people rather than military failures. They also criticized Ukraine’s leadership for allegedly sabotaging negotiations for a ceasefire and questioned the legitimacy of the Zelensky administration.
Security matters between Russia and Belarus were also touched upon, with references to the Oreshnik military facility in Belarus, indicating that military cooperation was part of the discussions, though specifics were not detailed publicly.
As the meeting concluded, the leaders reaffirmed their strategic economic and security cooperation and shared stance on the conflict in Ukraine and the stalled peace process.
Meanwhile, it was also announced that U.S. President Joe Biden's special envoy, Steve Biegun, will visit Russia. The exact dates of Biegun's visit have not been specified, and no information was provided about the topics to be discussed during his visit.
President Trump, in a separate development, acknowledged the famine in the Gaza Strip and suggested that part of the problem lies in the fact that Hamas takes the money and food intended for the people. However, he did not specify his opinion regarding the actions of Israel against the Palestinian population in Gaza.
In conclusion, the meetings in Russia on August 1, 2025, marked a significant moment in the ongoing relationships between Belarus, Russia, and the United States, with key discussions on trade, security, and regional conflicts taking place.
WAR-AND-CONFLICTS were discussed between President Lukashenko and Putin, with the leaders criticizing Ukraine's leadership and questioning the legitimacy of the Zelensky administration, referring to the ongoing situation regarding Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
In GENERAL-NEWS, U.S. President Joe Biden's special envoy, Steve Biegun, is scheduled to visit Russia, although the exact dates and topics of discussion have not yet been released.
