Belarus: Lukashenko and Putin Hold Talks in Sochi

Belarus President Alexander Lukashenko (L) and Russian President Vladimir Putin (R) during their meeting in the Black Sea resort of Sochi, Russia. September 14, 2020.

14 September 2020

The meeting between the Russian and Belarusian heads of state took place at the Bocharov Rochei summer residence in Sochi, Russia.

The presidents of Belarus and Russia, Alexander Lukashenko and Vladimir Putin, held talks Monday in the Sochi region of the Russian Federation where they discussed, among other topics, their joint responses to the issues emerging in both nations. 

Similarly, they conversed about the state of the country's bilateral relations and cooperation efforts, their current ties through the Union State of Russia and Belarus, various international concerns and the broader situation in the region. 

During the conversation, Putin rejected the foreign intervention in Belarus' internal affairs and reaffirmed Moscow's commitments to Belarus and the current agreements between the two countries.

In that sense, the Russian president communicated that both countries agreed to a $1.5 billion loan for Belarus. President Putin also noted that Belarus will be the first country to receive the Russian vaccine against the coronavirus, Sputnik V, currently undergoing Phase 3 trials.

As such, Lukashenko, making his first official visit to Russia after the protests in Belarus began last month, expressed appreciation for Russia's support throughout his country's post-electoral crisis.