Фото: t.me/mintransbelarus
Belarusian Transport and Communications Minister Aliaksei Lyakhnovich and his Russian counterpart Andrei Nikitin have signed a memorandum of cooperation on the construction of the Moscow–Minsk high-speed railway. The signing took place at a meeting of the Union State Council of Ministers in Minsk, the Belarusian Transport Ministry’s press service reported.
The document provides for cooperation in the design, construction and subsequent operation of the high-speed railway. The parties intend to coordinate their work, exchange experience, develop industrial cooperation and train personnel for the project. The ministry expects the railway’s construction to stimulate business activity, trade, investment and tourism between the two countries.
According to Nikitin, the future railway will be about 700 km long, with a journey between Moscow and Minsk taking around three hours, TASS reports. Russian Railways is beginning work on a preliminary technical feasibility study for the project. After establishing a technological and project partnership with Belarus, the parties will discuss the contractors.
In addition, cross-border trains have been running between Belarus and Russia on the Smolensk–Vitebsk and Smolensk–Orsha routes since April 2. The Transport Ministry said the pilot projects had delivered results that “significantly exceeded” forecasts. The possibility of expanding rail services is expected to be considered at the end of the year.
According to Belarusian Prime Minister Aliaksandr Turchyn, trade between Belarus and Russia increased by more than 20% in the first eight months of 2026.