MOSCOW, May 27. /TASS/: Russian President Vladimir Putin will meet with his Belarusian counterpart Alexander Lukashenko in Sochi on Friday, May 28, and discuss relevant issues related to the further development of bilateral ties and the two countries’ joint projects, the Kremlin press service reported on Thursday.
"On May 28, President of the Russian Federation Vladimir Putin and President of the Republic of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko will hold talks in Sochi. Relevant issues on the further development of bilateral ties, the fulfillment of joint projects in the trade, economic, energy, cultural and humanitarian spheres, as well as issues of promoting integration within the Union State are on the agenda," the press service said.
Kremlin Spokesman Dmitry Peskov earlier noted that no media statements were planned following the meeting. He pointed out that the talks between the two leaders had been planned before the Ryanair plane incident. Peskov also said that Lukashenko would have an opportunity to brief the Russian head of state on the circumstances of the incident in detail.
On May 23, a Vilnius-bound Ryanair flight that took off from Athens made an emergency landing at Minsk International Airport after a reported bomb threat. No explosive devices were found on board so the incident turned out to be a false alarm. Minsk specified that Roman Protasevich, one of the co-founders of the Nexta Telegram channel recognized as extremist in Belarus, had been among the passengers. Protasevich was detained after the airliner had landed in the Belarusian capital. The plane left Minsk and continued on to Vilnius later on the same day.
