The CIS leaders met at the Hermitage. It is one of the world’s largest museums, housing over 3 million cultural artifacts from various countries and nations. The collection includes paintings and graphics, sculptures, coins and medals, and archaeological materials. The Hermitage’s exhibits are displayed in more than 500 halls covering an area of approximately 100,000 square meters.

The main Hermitage complex comprises five buildings: the Winter Palace, the Small Hermitage, the Old (Large) Hermitage, the New Hermitage, and the Hermitage Theater.

BelTA reported previously that Aleksandr Lukashenko’s working visit to Russia began on 21 December. On that day the Belarusian leader participated in a session of the Supreme Eurasian Economic Council. He outlined the key priorities of the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) for the upcoming five-year term and raised the matter of fulfilling previous agreements within the framework of the union, emphasizing a shared commitment to integration.

The day before the G5 summit the Belarus president met with Russian President Vladimir Putin. Among other things the meeting of the leaders mentioned bilateral relations between Minsk and Moscow, integration processes across the post-Soviet space, Lukashenko’s speech at the Belarusian People’s Congress, and Vladimir Putin’s direct line.

Photo: BelTA