Putin hosts meeting with Belarus' Lukashenko in St. Petersburg

Russian President Vladimir Putin hosted a meeting with visiting Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko in St. Petersburg on Tuesday.

Belarus remains Russia's stable and reliable partner in the economic sphere, Putin said, noting the trade turnover between the two countries is growing.

Lukashenko thanked Putin for Russia's support amid the global COVID-19 pandemic and growing tensions with the West, and pledged to repay its loans.