Lukashenko hosted a government conference to discuss Belarus’ socio-economic development program for 2026-2030

At the beginning of the meeting the head of state commented on the situation at the Belarusian-Lithuanian border.

Aleksandr Lukashenko said: “I’d like to state: we have been ready for the opening of the border for a long time. We didn’t close it. The border’s operation can be resumed on our side within several hours. The border service is ready for it on the whole.”

The head of state said that when the chairman of the State Border Committee had delivered a report to the President the other day, the report covered the situation and mentioned that Lithuania would like to reduce tensions in the current situation. “I responded to him by say that if Lithuania wants that, then the ball is on their side. They are free to open the border. We will work and cooperate just the way we’ve been doing up till now,” the President stated.

Aleksandr Lukashenko stressed that the Lithuanian nation has nothing to do with the decision of the Lithuanian authorities to close the border with Belarus. “I don’t even want to say for what reasons. Today we know the reaction of the Lithuanian nation – of citizens of Lithuania, of the private sector – to these actions. Naturally, Lithuanian authorities have had to take steps and implement some measures,” the President said. “As usual, they have decided to do some mouse hunting and try to once again pressure us and accuse us of either [launching weather] balloons [to smuggle cigarettes] or something else. Although an exhaustive answer to this question has been given. And an investigation by our agencies and by Lithuania’s confirms who runs this cigarette business, who sends these balloons across the border, and so on.”

“Understanding that a complicated situation has evolved around the border closure, they [Lithuania] have tried to move the resolution of the issue from the interstate level to the level of a border guard station. I call it mouse hunting. They contacted the Lida border service unit (not a government agency, not the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, not the central government) with either a request or a demand to open the border. We have two border crossings operational in that section. They wanted the border opened in one section for the sake of allegedly evacuating some vehicles,” the head of state said.

“I didn’t even let him finish this report. I said: fine, once they are ready to evacuate, once they come to terms with our side… After all, we virtually have no customs service or border service personnel at the border crossing. Due to the closure. Our personnel have been reassigned to other sections. It was my decision. Once they are ready [in Lithuania], we will negotiate. If they want to evacuate, they are free to evacuate,” the Belarusian leader stated.

This is why during the entire day yesterday upon Aleksandr Lukashenko’s instructions and under the supervision of the state secretary of the Security Council police personnel gathered all the Lithuanian vehicles at border crossings and placed them under police protection. “So that they would not blame us later on for doing something bad. They have been placed under protection. If they want to evacuate, well, we are going to negotiate,” the President said.

“The vehicles have been gathered up. They are secured. Those, who protect them, have requested €120 per day I think. The protection has been paid for. Every day under protection will cost €120. Pay and take the vehicles with the cargoes away. If it doesn’t happen within the next several days, we will make a decision according to our laws as the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has stated. Right up to seizing these automobiles. They cannot hang about on the roads. 1,100 or 1,200 huge semi-trailer trucks, which were parked on some road,” the head of state pointed out.

Aleksandr Lukashenko remarked that he had given a separate instruction concerning drivers of the semi-trucks. “People have been suffering. The drivers have been suffering. I’ve given an instruction to take good care of the drivers. They bear no guilt. Freight receivers in Lithuania are not guilty of anything either. They are free to contact the Lithuanian authorities for the sake of resolving these issues. This is why we will deliver the drivers right to the border crossing at the border. Make sure the drivers don’t get offended,” the President made a request. “If they don’t want to drive away, they are free to spend nights in their vehicles just the way they have done on the road or they can stay in hotels. We should provide for all the 1,100 or 1,500 drivers. Everyone should get everything they need. People need to be fed, should be able to wash, and get other needs taken care of.”

“If they want to evacuate, let them evacuate. It is not our problem. After all, I guess we transport next to nothing across this border due to sanctions. Only some kinds of goods that Lithuanians or Poles desperately need. If they need them very much, they make an order and we transport them. If they don’t order the goods, we don’t transport them there. And to Kazakhs, Russians, the Chinese, and other countries they [Lithuania] will have to offer not simply a very serious explanation but they will have to sort it out. Because nobody should act like that,” the Belarusian leader explained.

“We will talk about all the other things during negotiations with a delegation of the United States of America soon. I feel they have been involved,” Aleksandr Lukashenko added.

Speaking about Belarus’ socio-economic development program for 2026-2030, the President said: “We need to prepare a high-quality and truly effective program! Based on realistic projects, our real- life experience, and available resources.”

Aleksandr Lukashenko recalled that in the summer, the government had developed the concept for the upcoming five-year plan. A number of priorities were proposed, reflecting public demand and included in the President’s election program. Among them are digitalization of the economy, strong regions, roads and transport infrastructure, affordable housing, quality mobile communication, tourism, higher standards of living.

“There are also pressing economic issues in areas with high development potential that could drive growth: increasing technological sophistication of production, boosting investment activity of enterprises, reducing all types of costs, raising labor productivity, and more,” he said.

The head of state noted that within a month, the document must be submitted to the Belarusian People’s Congress: “This is a matter of our strategy, primarily socio-economic development. All issues are reflected there. Therefore, delegates of the Belarusian People’s Congress must review this program and adopt it in accordance with the Constitution.”

“It is important now to make correct project decisions and present them to the delegates. After discussion, possible revisions, and approval, the five-year program will become binding law for all state bodies and organizations. What we write down and what is adopted at the Belarusian People’s Congress must be strictly implemented. State and regional programs, as well as annual forecasts and other documents, must fully correspond to decisions of the Belarusian People’s Congress. Adjustments or changes to the country’s development directions will only be possible through decisions of this representative congress,” he said.

 The Council of Ministers, in conjunction with relevant bodies, has presented a draft five-year program containing five priorities. "Furthermore, as the government reports, it is elaborated upon and specified in the corresponding state program projects, regional plans, and targets,” the head of state noted.

“However, as the saying goes, one head is good, but two are better. The delegates of the Belarusian People's Congress expressed a desire to actively participate in the finalization of the document. I supported this initiative and instructed to involve our leading economists and people who will voice their opinions in this work. A working group comprising delegates with significant experience and competence in various fields has been put together. It is headed by the chairman of the Board of the National Bank, former prime minister [Roman Golovchenko],” Aleksandr Lukashenko said.

As it was reported to the head of state, the working group, in cooperation with the government, has made up an updated draft of the program, now consisting of eight priorities.

Aleksandr Lukashenko raised a number of questions regarding the updated version.

About the substance of the sections

The head of state noted that the proposed indicators (targets) represent a kind of commitment to the people. Therefore, they must be backed by concrete actions (tasks) and, most importantly, by funding.

“For example, there is a substantial migration increase (we even entered the figure of 100,000 people in some place). Does this mean that we are unable to develop our internal labor potential and distribute productive forces evenly across the country? This needs to be done. We must start, as I have said many times, with housing. We need to build housing where it is needed for the economy,” the head of state said.

“Moreover, what categories of migrants are we talking about? I remind you that we have adopted very strict legislation on attracting them to the country. Our people demanded this, promising that labor productivity would be much higher,| Aleksandr Lukashenko noted.

“However, I will tell you frankly, after flying over half the country during this holiday break, I saw that our people know how to work. Even in Gomel Oblast (I don't want to overpraise Ivan Krupko), there is nothing to criticize,” the President noted. “Since we have focused on Polesie, we must bring it into proper condition, up to par with the best farms in the region. Local people work quite well. This shows that they have understood that it's better to work on a tractor than to fight, as in neighboring Ukraine. But we need to fine-tune things there.”The President recalled that at the recent meeting on the 2026 development forecast he said that if someone proposes more ambitious targets, he is for it. “But you must competently justify the approaches. It can't just be: 'Look, this is too low, let's aim higher!' Everything must be justified and calculated financially. However, we also cannot set the bar too low,” the head of state instructed.

About defense capability as a priority of the draft program

Aleksandr Lukashenko stated that, despite its extreme importance, this topic has its own specific nature and pertains to military policy, strategy, and defense: “Essentially, it is about the necessary security framework that ensures the country's peaceful and stable social and economic development.”

“People will find it difficult to think about the economy if they don't feel military strength behind them. There is a logic to this in connection with the events unfolding beyond our borders. However, it must be noted that this is a separate issue: an issue of national security, which we have already examined,” the Belarusian leader noted.

About the lack of consensus

Aleksandr Lukashenko highlighted this as an important point, stating that there is no consensus between the working group and the government.

“As a result, there are now two versions of the program on my desk. The Council of Ministers reports that it has incorporated all the new and useful proposals from the group into its version. Its content is 90% the same, only the form is different. This is the government's view,” the President said. “In turn, the National Bank (the core of this working group is composed of National Bank specialists) insists that it is prepared to align its draft with the government’s one only based on its own version of the document.”

“On one hand, it's good that there are several opinions regarding the document as a whole. On the other hand, we must arrive at a single version. We can't present two documents to the Belarusian People's Congress and demand from the delegates: 'Come on, give us your opinion!'. They will give it, and we'll sit for a week, listening... Perhaps they will gather in the regions and develop a unified position. But still, it is desirable to have a single program. People need a realistic, concrete document that is understandable not only to every delegate but to every citizen of our country,” the head of state emphasized.

A series of preparatory activities and discussions have already been conducted, and platforms for collecting public proposals were launched. 70,000 responses have been received. “Therefore, we must answer the question of how Belarusians see themselves and what kind of country Belarusians see their country as,” Aleksandr Lukashenko said.

It is planned that, following the meeting and taking into account the general consensus, the government will finalize the draft program to present it for consideration of the Belarusian People's Congress.