The presidents of Russia and Belarus, Vladimir Putin and Alexander Lukashenko, talked yesterday in Sochi for five and a half hours about the relations between the two countries, reports Tanjug.
On the 20th anniversary of the signing of the agreement on the Alliance of Russia and Belarus, Putin assessed that the Russian and Belarusian authorities have done a lot to integrate the two countries.
AP and Reuters report that around 1.000 people gathered in the Belarusian capital of Minsk for a protest against the integration of Belarus and Russia.
At the beginning of the talks, Lukashenko requested that Russia continue supplying gas to Belarus at prices valid for the Russian market.
"We will talk about future perspectives. I hope that we will do everything so that our citizens and peoples feel a rapprochement, first of all in the economic sphere, but also in the social field, so that they can benefit from integration," Putin said, according to Reuters.
After the two-hour extended conversation, Putin and Lukashenko continued their private talks.
At the same time, the delegations led by Prime Ministers Dmitry Medvedev and Sergej Rumas continued their talks during the working dinner, reports TAS S.
Putin and Lukashenko plan to meet on December 20 in St. Petersburg, and perhaps hold an additional meeting.
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