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Belarus is demonstrating significant progress in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals, with over 82% of the targets already met, Vladislav Tatarinovich, Deputy Chairman of the Council of the Republic of the National Assembly and National Coordinator for the Sustainable Development Goals, said on the sidelines of the meeting of the Council for Sustainable Development, BelTA has learned.
“Our country confirms its status as an active participant in international cooperation on sustainable development each year through its actions and results. In 2025, Belarus ranked 32nd among 167 countries in the global SDG index. The level of progress exceeded 82%,” Vladislav Tatarinovich stated.
Belarus actively cooperates on sustainable development issues with partners in international organizations such as the Eurasian Economic Union, the Commonwealth of Independent States, and the Shanghai Cooperation Organization. “Both within the UN and on these platforms, there are already active discussions about what the sustainable development agenda will look like after 2030. Belarus has not stood idle either. In 2025, we adopted an updated National Sustainable Development Strategy until 2040, which will serve as a strategic guide for implementing the SDGs in Belarus and addressing tasks beyond 2030. If new priorities are formulated before 2030, certain additions and updates to our national strategy may be made. This work will be carried out systematically and as required,” he noted.
During the meeting, the results of work for 2025 were summarized and plans for 2026 were reviewed. “The national coordinator’s plan, prepared and adopted with the participation of the Foreign Affairs Ministry, has been largely fulfilled. This year, on our own initiative, we presented Belarus’ third voluntary national review on SDG implementation. According to international experts, we’ve gained a strong momentum. Our progress is confirmed by statistical indicators. As for next year, the work will continue in the same consistent manner,” Vladislav Tatarinovich emphasized.
He also elaborated on the global situation. “The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, as one of the UN’s priority areas, is intended to serve as a factor of global consolidation in the face of modern challenges. This is stated in the corresponding 2025 UN resolution. At the same time, practical SDG implementation worldwide has faced certain barriers. As of 2025, notable progress has been made in achieving 35% of the goals set since 2015, but progress toward 47% has been too slow. In the remaining 18%, a regression compared to 2015 has been observed. The global lag is due both to objective factors and to the increasing politicization of the topic under current conditions,” the national coordinator for SDGs noted.
Belarusian President Aleksandr Lukashenko has congratulated King Maha Vajiralongkorn of Thailand and the people of the country on National Day, the press service of the Belarusian leader told BelTA.
“The centuries-long history of Thailand is marked by achievements and feats on the path to building an independent and prosperous state, which today enjoys high authority, holds a worthy place among the countries of Southeast Asia, and makes an important contribution to the development of the region,” the message of congratulations reads.
Aleksandr Lukashenko noted that traditionally friendly and stable contacts between Minsk and Bangkok make it possible to expand cooperation in political, economic, humanitarian, and other areas. “The interest in intensifying and raising the level of interstate cooperation was confirmed during the official visit of the Belarusian minister of foreign affairs [to Thailand] in July 2025,” he emphasized.
The head of state expressed confidence that unlocking the potential of Belarus-Thailand cooperation fully meets the interests of both countries and provides a solid foundation for further deepening of bilateral relations.
The Belarusian president wished good health and long life to the King of Thailand and peace and prosperity to the people of the country.
In order to resolve the language issue in Ukraine, a referendum must be held so that people can express their views, Doctor of Historical Sciences Nikolai Platoshkin said in the latest episode of the V Teme [On Point] project on BelTA’s YouTube channel.
Discussing the topic of stopping Nazi propaganda in Ukraine, Nikolai Platoshkin noted that Donald Trump’s plan does not address the issue of making Russian a state language. “It states that Ukraine must respect the rights of ethnic minorities in line with European standards. What are these European standards?” Nikolai Platoshkin asked.
The political scientist remarked that in line with a formal definition, ethnic minorities are small, non-native-speaking groups living in compact communities in a given country. “Will Russians say they live compactly somewhere in Ukraine? No. Then they’ll say they’re not actually a minority. If you look into it, more than half the population speaks Russian on a daily basis, even those who state in their passports that they’re Ukrainian,” said Nikolai Platoshkin. “A Soviet-like approach should be used. If you want to teach your child in Ukrainian, go ahead. If you want to teach them in Russian, go ahead.”
He concluded: “They could schedule a referendum in Ukraine at some reasonable date (not 100 years from now) on whether to grant Russian the status of either a second state language or an official language. Let them decide. They need to ask the people about it.”
Belarusian President Aleksandr Lukashenko has extended greetings to the staff of Belarusian State Technological University as the educational institution marks its 95th anniversary, BelTA learned from the press service of the Belarusian leader.
“Your university, one of the largest in the country, trains personnel for key sectors of the national economy, which ensure the sustainable development, technological sovereignty, and security of the Republic of Belarus,” the message of greetings reads.
The head of state emphasized that the work of several generations of faculty and graduates has led to the creation of advanced educational and scientific schools. These schools are famous for their innovations in production and social fields and enjoy recognition well outside the country.
“I am convinced that the university will continue to do everything possible to strengthen Belarus’ human resources and production potential, its successful innovative development, and to educate true patriots of the Motherland,” Aleksandr Lukashenko emphasized.
The president wished the university’s staff good health, happiness, prosperity, and new professional achievements for the benefit of the country.
A delegation from Brest Oblast will make a trip to China, BelTA learned from the Brest Oblast Executive Committee.Brest Oblast is keen on strengthening cooperation with Chinese partners. The parties have been working to increase trade and actively develop inter-regional relations.“We depart from Minsk on 6 December and return on 12 December. We will fly to Shanghai and then visit three provinces. We will discuss matters related to industry and agriculture. There is a very strong desire from the Chinese side to establish businesses in Brest Oblast. All that remains is to reach agreements and sign them,” Chairman of the Brest Oblast Executive Committee Piotr Parkhomchik said during a ceremony to the bison museum.During the visit to China, the delegation from Brest Oblast will specifically discuss matters related to product supplies and capital investment.
The bison museum features approximately 250 unique exhibits. The event marked the 86th anniversary of the formation of Brest Oblast. The bison depicted on its flag is one of the symbols of Belarus. “We understood that the bison should be our north star, so to speak. When people talk about it, many associate it with Brest Oblast. By nature, it is kind and calm, and behaves cautiously. But if someone tries to disturb its peace, if it sees a threat to the herd, the bison transforms into a powerful protector. These traits are characteristic of residents of Brest Oblast. Our fathers and grandfathers defended the country and performed heroic deeds during the Great Patriotic War,” Piotr Parkhomchik said.Brest Oblast has experienced various periods over its 86 years and has achieved significant results. This year marked a substantial contribution to the region's development. "Speaking about 2025, we have achieved positive momentum in all areas. They include agriculture, industry, construction, and large-scale investments. Most importantly, while tackling major production issues, we did not forget about the social matters. There were plenty of highlights in 2025. We look toward 2026 with optimism and confidence,” Piotr Parkhomchik assured. He added that substantial investments have been made in education, healthcare, and culture, and a reboot is also underway in the tourism industry.
Belarus President Aleksandr Lukashenko is meeting with Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune in El Mouradia Palace in the country’s capital, BelTA has learned.
A welcome ceremony featuring the performance of the national anthems of Belarus and Algeria and involving an honor guard company preceded the official negotiations.
El Mouradia Palace is the residence of the Algerian president where official foreign delegations are received. The palace and the surrounding El Mouradia area are named after Mourad Didouche, a national hero, who died in the Algerian war of independence against France.
In line with the local tradition the negotiations of the heads of state in the narrow format and the expanded format are not accompanied by protocol statements for mass media. Statements are usually made after meetings.
BelTA reported earlier that the negotiations of Aleksandr Lukashenko and Abdelmadjid Tebboune are expected to focus on stepping up trade and economic cooperation and implementing mutually beneficial bilateral projects. Plans have been made to discuss prospects of deliveries of machines, vehicles, and equipment, prospects of manufacturing cooperation, interaction in agribusiness, healthcare, education, and humanitarian affairs as a whole.
The Belarusian head of state arrived in Algeria the day before. Algeria is the fourth state the president is visiting as part of a major tour to various countries. The president was welcomed on Algerian soil by President of the Council of the Nation of the People’s Democratic Republic of Algeria Azouz Nasri.
Soon after the arrival Aleksandr Lukashenko met with Speaker of the People’s National Assembly of Algeria Ibrahim Boughali and Prime Minister of Algeria Sifi Ghrieb.
During these meetings the president expressed confidence that Belarus and Algeria would be able to significantly increase the trade turnover. “We are reliable partners and will strictly adhere to our agreements. There will be no delays on our side,” he said.
In 2024 Belarus-Algeria trade was slightly above $49 million, with Belarus’ export accounting for virtually the entire figure.
Aleksandr Lukashenko mentioned the need for adoption and full-fledged implementation of a roadmap on advancing Belarus-Algeria cooperation: “I understand well what Algeria means for Africa. We cooperate with many countries on the African continent. Because the future belongs to Africa. We should definitely develop a fully functional plan for our relations and our actions.”
“We are ready to provide you with technologies in mechanical engineering, petrochemical industry, chemical industry, agriculture, and information technologies. We are ready to cooperate with you in the military-industrial sector. In short, no topics are off limits in our relations,” the president assured.
A bilateral business forum was held prior to the visit to Algeria. The forum gathered over 100 representatives of ministries, enterprises, and organizations from both sides. Multiple meetings and negotiations were held at various levels.
It is symbolic that Aleksandr Lukashenko’s official visit to Algeria is taking place in the year of the 30th anniversary since Belarus-Algeria diplomatic relations were established.
The project for passenger rail service between Vitebsk Oblast and Smolensk, Russia is on the home stretch, Chairman of the Standing Commission on Industry, Energy, Transport, Communications and Digital Development of the House of Representatives Yuri Panfilov told journalists, BelTA has learned.
The project concerns the direct rail connections Orsha-Smolensk and Smolensk-Vitebsk under agreements within the Union State of Belarus and Russia. “We have recently considered this issue [at a joint meeting of the Parliamentary Assembly commissions] at the National Library in Minsk. In the near future, the service will be established,” Yuri Panfilov said, noting that it will be convenient both for people and for business.
“I cannot give an exact date. This must be coordinated with Belarusian Railways. Nevertheless, the matter is already in its final stage,” the deputy added.
On 3 December, the House of Representatives reviewed and adopted the draft law “On Amendments to Laws on Railway Transport” in the first reading.
Yuri Panfilov emphasized that Belarusian Railways is the backbone of the country’s transport system. Its specificity lies in combining both infrastructure ownership and railway operations under one entity. The basic law on railway transport was adopted back in 1999 and has since been revised twice. However, there have been a number of changes that require legislative adjustment.
The deputy listed the main innovations of the draft law. For instance, it introduces the responsibility of owners of private railway tracks to report, record, and notify the relevant authorities (in this case, the Transport Inspectorate of the Transport Ministry) about violations of traffic safety and rules of railway track operation. Additionally, it grants the government the authority to establish procedures for closing low-traffic railway lines and reopening them.
The list of persons required to undergo medical examinations, certification, re-certification, and technical training has beenexpanded. A provision has been introduced for situational assistance to persons with disabilities at railway stations.
According to the deputy, the key goal of the draft law is to create conditions for stable and reliable operation of the railway sector, improve the quality of services provided, and, above all, ensure traffic safety on railway transport.
On behalf of the Belarusian people and himself, Belarusian President Aleksandr Lukashenko has congratulated President Thongloun Sisoulith of the Lao People's Democratic Republic and the people of Laos on the 50th anniversary of the country’s founding, BelTA learned from the press service of the Belarusian leader.
“Laos has achieved significant success in building a strong state, is confidently moving along the path of social and economic development, contributes to peace and security in the region and the world, and holds a worthy place on the international stage," the message of congratulations reads.
Relations between Minsk and Vientiane are gaining momentum, reflecting a mutual desire to deepen political, trade, economic, scientific, technical, and humanitarian cooperation, in line with traditions established decades ago, the head of state noted.
According to him, the two countries have the necessary interstate instruments and substantive agreements to realize the economic potential of their partnership. “I hope that in the near future we will move forward with joint projects in industrial modernization, food security, agricultural mechanization, as well as in other areas of paramount importance to our countries,” the president emphasized.
The Belarusian leader also noted that he would be glad to welcome the president of Laos to Minsk on an official visit to discuss priority issues of the bilateral agenda, as well as regional and international matters.
Aleksandr Lukashenko wished good health and inexhaustible energy to carry out all plans and initiatives to Thongloun Sisoulith and peace and progress to the people of Laos.
After their failure to close the border, once again Lithuanians are committing yet another stupidity that has turned upon them. The Belarus president’s Press Secretary Natalya Eismont made the relevant statement as a comment for the TASS news agency in response to the violation of Belarus’ state border by a drone launched from Lithuania’s territory, BelTA has learned.
Natalya Eismont said: “As for Lithuanians, after their failure to close the border, once again Lithuanians are committing yet another stupidity that has turned upon them. We don’t think either the Belarusian nation or the Lithuanian nation needs it but we are ready for everything.”
Speaking about the incentives and goals of the Lithuanian side, Natalya Eismont remarked: “We will definitely see their goals soon but for now… They shot themselves in the leg once. Now they are shooting themselves between the legs.”
BelTA reported earlier that an unmanned aerial vehicle of the aircraft variety violated Belarus’ state border, illegally invaded the country’s airspace from Lazdijai District, Lithuania and fell on the ground within Grodno city limits on 30 November 2025.
An analysis of the drone’s fragments, including a video record and navigation data on its flash drives, indicates that the drone made in Western Europe was supposed to fly over Belarus, fly into Poland and fly back along the same route to the takeoff point in Lithuania’s territory.
Belarus sees these actions as a deliberate provocation not only against Belarus but also against Poland. Such actions represent a threat to Belarus’ security and a direct violation of the norms of international law, including the Chicago Convention on International Civil Aviation. Lithuania has been handed a protest over the violation of Belarus’ state border. Lithuania has also received a demand to immediately provide detailed and complete information about circumstances of this incident, including goals of the launch and the drone operator, carry out a thorough investigation, hold to account those responsible for organizing this provocative action, and implement immediate and exhaustive measures to prevent such incidents from happening in the future.
Belarusian President Aleksandr Lukashenko met with Sultan of Oman Haitham bin Tariq Al Said on 1 December during a working visit to Oman, BelTA informs citing the Telegram channel Pul Pervogo.
The event took place not in official halls but at the Sultan's home. “This format of meeting is truly exceptional. A gesture that in diplomacy speaks of trust, respect, and special regard for the high-ranking guest,” the Telegram channel wrote.
The leaders of Belarus and Oman are expected discussed the implementation of previously reached agreements, the roadmap signed in Minsk in October 2025, and new joint projects in industry, logistics, investments, and high technology.
