Łukašenka to meet with Putin next week

October 28, Pozirk. The December 5 meeting of the Supreme State Council of Russia and Belarus should add clarity to cooperation between the two countries for next two years, Alaksandar Łukašenka has told Russia’s First Deputy Prime Minister Denis Manturov in Minsk.

Łukašenka and Russian President Vladimir Putin are expected to participate.

“It’s necessary to dot all the i’s. Preferably, at the Supreme State Council,” the Belarusian ruler’s press office reported, quoting him as saying.

Łukašenka noted that “much depends” on Manturov’s mission, stressing that he and Putin are looking forward to the results of the visit.

“We may agree that Russia will be interested in our new projects and increase funding,” he said, expressing gratitude to Moscow for financing import-substitution programs in his country.

The Supreme State Council is also expected to consider a treaty on security guarantees, which reaffirms Russia’s readiness to use nuclear weapons in response to “external aggression” against Belarus.

Russian diplomats planned to finalize the draft treaty by early December.

More on security guarantees: Minsk, Moscow to sign treaty regulating use of nukes –  Belarus’ top diplomat