Putin and Lukashenko strengthen ties amidst informal talks in Russia
Belarus President Alexander Lukashenko travelled to meet with Vladimir Putin. Both leaders met in the Russian Federation, where, according to media reports, they are holding informal talks. They were filmed near a tree named after the Russian president.
Lukashenko and Putin are two leaders instilling fear in Europe. The Belarusian president supports Russia during the war that Putin is conducting in Ukraine. Both presidents occasionally meet to strengthen the good relations between their countries. At the end of May, Putin hosted Lukashenko in Minsk, where they discussed economic relations and regional issues. They announced, among other things, exercises involving tactical nuclear weapons.
This time, Russian and Belarusian media report on the meeting of both leaders in the Russian Federation. These days they are expected to discuss current Russian-Belarusian relations, the promotion of EU projects, security topics in the region, and the international agenda.
On social media, recordings from a visit to Valaam Island on Lake Ladoga in the Republic of Karelia have appeared. Interestingly, almost at the same time last year, they met in the same place.
The propaganda agency TASS, citing the Belarusian press service, reports that Putin and Lukashenko are meeting one-on-one. "The meeting is informal, but the programme is serious," the Russians inform.
In the mentioned recordings, both leaders are seen in rather informal attire. Putin is dressed in a suit but does not have a tie or bow tie. His Belarusian counterpart is dressed in a beige t-shirt and light trousers. Both, clearly pleased, admire the picturesque views and the tree named Putin.
The Belarusian agency Belta reports that the day before, they met on the grounds of an Orthodox monastery. They also visited the Smolensk Icon of the Mother of God Temple. The mentioned monastery is visited by over 100,000 tourists every year.
