Belarusian ruler Alexander Lukashenko received Kremlin chief Vladimir Putin at Minsk airport on a red carpet with bread and salt. This is shown by images from the pro-government Belarusian Telegram channel Pool Pervogo. The two former Soviet republics are close allies, with Lukashenko's government totally dependent on Moscow politically, economically and militarily after sanctions imposed by the West.

At the meeting of the two heads of state, Putin said that the economy is a priority in the relations between the two countries. The Kremlin chief also pointed out that bilateral trade had risen to $40 billion. Lukashenko, in turn, said Minsk and Moscow remain open to dialogue with other European states. "I hope that they will soon hear reason there and we will move on to a constructive discussion on the issues of common security and the future world order," he said.

While the two leaders' contacts are regular and frequent, it is Putin's first visit to Belarus in three years. Before the visit, Lukashenko had announced that the primary focus would be on deepening economic cooperation. On the Moscow side, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov countered speculation that Russia would urge its western neighbor to enter the war against Ukraine.