In St. Petersburg, a summit was held where leaders of the EAEU and CIS countries gathered. During the meeting, Vladimir Putin noted that the EAEU has become a significant center of the new multipolar world. A number of important agreements were signed at the summit, including a free trade agreement with Indonesia, according to information from "Rossiskaya Gazeta".
State and government officials gathered in both a narrow and an expanded format. The event took place in the building of the Yeltsin Presidential Library. Among the participants were the President of Russia, President of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko, Prime Minister of Armenia Nikol Pashinyan, President of Kazakhstan Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, President of Kyrgyzstan Sadyr Japarov, and Chairman of the Board of the Eurasian Economic Commission Bakytzhan Sagintayev. In the expanded format, they were joined by President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev, President of Cuba Miguel Díaz-Canel Bermúdez (in a video message), and representatives from Iran and Indonesia.
Putin proposed to summarize the year and discuss important decisions aimed at deepening cooperation.
He emphasized that "the EAEU has confidently established itself as an independent and self-sufficient center of the multipolar world, continuing to develop." According to him, this brings real benefits to the countries and positively affects the living standards of citizens. "This contributes to the economic stability and resilience of all participants in the 'five,' which is especially important in the context of global economic instability," Putin added.
Currently, Belarus holds the presidency in the EAEU, so Lukashenko emphasized the need to develop strategies for trade and economic cooperation with third countries for the upcoming five-year period. "We must seek partners in those regions where we are respected and awaited," he noted.
Lukashenko also acknowledged that despite the successes achieved, there are still problems, including delays in creating a unified energy market. "Some countries are still not ready for integration into the common financial market," added the Belarusian president.
In the expanded format, Putin emphasized that participation in the EAEU brings significant benefits, including accelerated economic growth. "The total GDP is showing growth," he noted, highlighting Kyrgyzstan with its impressive GDP increase of over 10%.
The President of Russia also noted that a stable payment infrastructure, independent of external factors, has been created within the EAEU. He mentioned the elimination of trade barriers and improved coordination in customs and tax areas. One of the priorities remains the development of the Union's transport infrastructure.
Putin also stated that more and more countries and multilateral organizations are showing interest in cooperation with the EAEU. The free trade agreement with Iran has come into force, trade agreements have been concluded with the UAE and Mongolia, and today a similar agreement was signed with Indonesia.
This will open new prospects for interaction between the "five" and one of the largest and fastest-growing economies in Asia and the world, explained the President of the Russian Federation.
Putin also announced work on a preferential agreement with India, which represents a reliable partner with a vast market and a GDP of about 4 trillion dollars. The Indian side is ready to accelerate the process of agreeing on this important document, he added.
In 2026, the presidency in the EAEU will pass to Kazakhstan, and the summit is scheduled for the end of May in Astana.
Before the start of the summit, Putin held separate meetings with the presidents of Kyrgyzstan and Belarus. He proposed to Japarov to discuss bilateral relations, while Lukashenko received a compliment for his deep and balanced speech at the All-Belarusian People's Assembly. Putin emphasized that there are practically no unresolved issues between the governments, but there are always topics for discussion.
Lukashenko agreed that bilateral issues for the presidents are practically exhausted and noted that the work of the governments is going well. "We are implementing all agreements in various areas, from military-technical cooperation to the economy," he concluded, characterizing the year's results with Putin as "a significant and bold event."
On December 22, on the second day of pre-New Year meetings, an informal CIS summit will take place in St. Petersburg, which has become a tradition. The leaders not only communicate but also participate in a cultural program that includes visits to historical sites and entertainment complexes.
