Greetings on the opening of the Forum of Hero Cities of the Russian Federation and the Republic of Belarus

The message reads, in part:

"This distinguished event, dedicated to the memory of the heroic defenders of the Fatherland, is taking place on the eve of Victory Day in the Great Patriotic War, which is a sacred holiday for our fraternal nations. Eight decades ago, our fathers, grandfathers and great-grandfathers, through immense sacrifice and unimaginable effort, not only defended their homeland, but also saved Europe and the world from Nazi enslavement. The feat of the victorious Soviet people is forever etched into the history of humanity and will remain in the hearts of grateful descendants.

In recognition of their exceptional achievements in defending our shared Motherland from invaders, 12 cities of the Soviet Union - Moscow and Minsk, Leningrad and Stalingrad, Sevastopol and Kiev, Odessa and Kerch, Novorossiysk and Tula, and Murmansk and Smolensk - were awarded the title of Hero City. The title of Hero Fortress was bestowed on the Brest Fortress, which was the first to confront the enemy.

Importantly, the strong traditions of friendship and mutual support, forged during the harsh war years, continue to serve as a solid foundation for expanding the friendly and allied relations between our countries. This is especially vital today, as Russia and Belarus face serious threats from the ideological heirs of the Nazis and their accomplices.

I am confident that together we will overcome all difficulties and continue our constructive work to strengthen bilateral cooperation in every field and to improve the institutions of the Union State. This, without a doubt, meets the fundamental interests of our fraternal nations."