The meeting began slightly after 12:00. For exactly an hour and a half the presidents spoke face-to-face in the Ceremonial Office. After that Aleksandr Lukashenko and Vladimir Putin had a working lunch. The Telegram channel Pul Pervogo published the menu: protein omelet with trout and asparagus, beef pastrami roll, green buckwheat with avocado and egg, millet porridge with pumpkin and blueberries. The menu also included quinoa with baked milk and peaches, and cottage cheese casserole with raisins and strawberries.

The conversation continued after the lunch. By that moment the two leaders had been communicating for a total of 3 hours and 40 minutes. But it was obvious that the entire agenda had not been discussed yet, this is why they went into the executive office of the Russian president.

The meeting lasted for a total of 5 hours and 22 minutes.

At the beginning of the meeting in the presence of mass media Aleksandr Lukashenko and Vladimir Putin made small statements. The Belarusian head of state invited the Russian counterpart to discuss a number of regional problems as well as some items on the bilateral agenda.

Aleksandr Lukashenko once again mentioned the intention to discuss the possibility of building another nuclear power plant in Belarus, including with the intent to supply electricity to Russia’s new regions. Matters of financing were also mentioned but the president did not reveal the details in public.

“If the decision is made, we will begin building a new [nuclear power plant] unit or a new nuclear power plant if there is need for it in Russia’s west and in the liberated regions,” the Belarusian leader said.

In turn, Vladimir Putin emphasized that financing is not a problem at all: “If there is a consumer that will take electricity and pay the necessary rate, then it won’t be a problem at all.”

The presidents agreed that on the whole, the nuclear energy industry contributes to quality growth of the economy and to the emergence of new branches. For instance, such as the expansion of the use of electric vehicles, the transition of residential buildings to electricity for heating purposes, possibilities for the development of artificial intelligence, for cryptocurrency mining, and for the construction of data centers.

In his introductory speech Vladimir Putin stressed that Belarus is a serious partner of Russia in the field of nuclear energy. “The first nuclear power plant has been created in Belarus and moreover, an industry has been established in Belarus, which specialists now work with Rosatom to build nuclear installations in third countries. And certainly, one cannot help but feel joy about it,” he said.

The Russian president also said that the situation with regard to Belarus-Russia cooperation in economy is very good: the trade turnover exceeds $50 billion and continues growing. Vigorous work is in progress in all areas, including in efforts to ensure the security of the Union State of Belarus and Russia.

belta.by