Russian President Vladimir Putin, currently working in St. Petersburg, will continue the two‑day informal summit of the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS), a traditional year‑end gathering of member states.
On the first day, the Russian leader took part in a meeting of the Supreme Eurasian Economic Council, attended the ceremony for the Lev Tolstoy Peace Prize — awarded to the presidents of Kyrgyzstan, Sadyr Japarov; Tajikistan, Emomali Rahmon; and Uzbekistan, Shavkat Mirziyoyev — and held several bilateral meetings.
While the first day of the summit was filled with official engagements, the second is dedicated to more informal communication. As presidential aide Yuri Ushakov has often noted, such settings typically allow leaders to discuss the most pressing issues in a constructive and open manner.
Putin has been hosting informal pre‑New Year meetings of CIS leaders annually since at least 2017. Starting in 2018, these gatherings have been held in his hometown of St. Petersburg.
The program traditionally extends beyond political talks. As host, the Russian president always prepares an extensive cultural agenda for the guests. In previous years, he and fellow CIS leaders have visited Peterhof, Tsarskoye Selo, and the Pavlovsk Palace.
A cultural program is also planned for 2025. During his meeting with Emomali Rahmon in late November, Putin said he was preparing “pleasant, meaningful, and memorable” events for the guests. He added that much of the program would reflect the heritage of each CIS country, noting that Russia has “preserved many cultural and historical treasures shared by the peoples of the former Soviet Union.”
The CIS currently includes 11 countries — Azerbaijan, Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Moldova, Russia, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, and Ukraine. However, Putin has pointed out that Moldova and Ukraine have long remained only nominal members, as they no longer participate in the organization’s activities.
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Photo: Official website of the President of the Russian Federation
Based on materials from TASS