MOSCOW: Russian President Vladimir Putin and Belarus strongman Alexander Lukashenko, who is facing the largest protests of his rule, will discuss plans to further integrate their countries on Monday, the Kremlin said.

As Lukashenko prepared for his first visit to Russia since protests broke out over his disputed re-election, the United States said on Friday it would impose new sanctions on Belarusian figures within days and warned Moscow it would alienate Belarusians if it continued to back the strongman.

The Kremlin said Putin and Lukashenko would meet in the Black Sea resort of Sochi to discuss further integration plans as well as key trade and energy projects.

“Key issues of the further development of Russian-Belarusian strategic partnership and alliance are planned to be discussed,” the Kremlin said.

Putin has been keen to unify Russia and Belarus, and Moscow has accompanied its offers of military and economic aid with calls for tighter integration.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said there was no plan for the leaders to sign any documents.

Published in Dawn, September 12th, 2020