SOURCE: KREMLIN.RU
16 September 2020
LUKASHENKO VISITS SOCHI BUT PAYS NO SPECTACULAR TRIBUTE TO RUSSIA There was no shortage of opinions that on his first trip to Russia after the presidential vote, Alexander Lukashenko would need to pay a hefty bill for Moscow’s lifeline after Belarus had plunged in a weeks-long crisis. This, however, did not happen. A raft of official conclusions is convenient for Lukashenko whilst not prompting more robust ties between the two countries. Yet the lion’s share of the talks took place behind closed doors. Possibly this is when the two leaders accepted a roadmap on Russia-Belarus ties, along with new projects and decisions.
T
he meeting was Lukashenko’s f irst foreign trip since the August 9 election. The four-hour-plus talks took place at Putin’s residence in Sochi. In opening remarks before
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cameras, Vladimir Putin said Moscow would grant a loan worth $1.5 billion to Belarus. According to Kremlin spokesman, a portion of the new loan has been granted to reimburse
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