Gas for the Five-Year Plan, a Second Nuclear Power Plant, Protecting the Common Market, and Ukraine. Details of Lukashenko and Putin's Talks

ALEXANDER LUKASHENKO and Vladimir Putin Alexander Lukashenko and Vladimir Putin

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September 26, MINSK . On September 26, Belarusian and Russian Presidents Alexander Lukashenko and Vladimir Putin held talks in the Kremlin in various formats, lasting over five hours, BelTA reports.

The heads of state discussed the international and regional situation, and in particular the ongoing standoff in Ukraine . They concluded that "there are good proposals on the table" that Volodymyr Zelenskyy should accept.

The presidents devoted considerable attention to issues on the bilateral agenda. Among the topics was cooperation in the oil and gas sector. The heads of state reached a meeting.

The possibility of was also discussed. At least one additional unit could be built using funds saved from a loan previously allocated by RUSSIA for the construction of the existing Belarusian Nuclear Power Plant.

Among other topics, they discussed protecting the common market.
The meeting began a little after 12:00 noon. The presidents spoke privately for exactly an hour and a half in the Representative Office. Alexander Lukashenko and Vladimir Putin then had a working breakfast. The TELEGRAM channel published the menu: protein omelet with trout and asparagus, beef pastrami roll, green buckwheat with avocado and egg, millet porridge with pumpkin and blueberries. Quinoa in baked MILK with peach and cottage cheese casserole with raisins and strawberries were also on offer. The conversation continued after breakfast. By that point, the two leaders had already spoken for a total of three hours and 40 minutes. But, apparently, the agenda hadn't been exhausted, and they went to the Russian President's office.

The meeting lasted five hours and 22 minutes.
At the beginning of the meeting, in the presence of the media, Alexander Lukashenko and Vladimir Putin made brief statements. The Belarusian leader invited his counterpart to discuss a number of issues, as well as some bilateral ones.
Alexander Lukashenko reiterated his intention to discuss the possibility of constructing another nuclear power plant in Belarus, including with a view to supplying electricity to new regions of Russia. Financing issues were also discussed, but the President did not publicly elaborate.

"If a decision is made, we will immediately begin building a new power unit or a new station if there is a need in western Russia and in the liberated regions," the Belarusian leader said.
Vladimir Putin, for his part, emphasized that financing is not an issue at all: "If there is a consumer who will take electricity and pay the required tariff, it's not a problem at all."
The presidents noted that nuclear energy, in general, contributes to qualitative economic growth and the emergence of new areas. These include, for example, the expansion of electric transport, the transition to electric heating in residential areas, and opportunities for the development of artificial intelligence, mining, and the construction of data centers.

In his opening remarks, Vladimir Putin emphasized that Belarus is Russia's equal in the field of nuclear energy. "The first nuclear power plant has been built in Belarus, and, moreover, an industry has emerged in Belarus, whose specialists are now working with Rosatom on the construction of nuclear facilities in third countries. And this, of course, is very encouraging," he said.
The Russian President also stated that the two countries' economic relations are very good, with trade turnover exceeding $50 billion and continuing to grow. Active work is underway in all areas , including ensuring the security of the Union State.
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