OREANDA-NEWS Vladimir Putin and Alexander Lukashenko hold an informal meeting at Valaam on Lake Ladoga in Karelia.

The leaders of Russia and Belarus have been visiting Valaam together for several years. As in previous years, they entered the church of the Smolensk Icon of the Mother of God in the Smolensk Skete, where monks pray for Russians who died in various wars.

After a short prayer service, in the presence of the presidents, Putin and Lukashenko will continue informal communication.

Lukashenko arrived in Russia on a working visit. First, he flew to St. Petersburg, where he boarded a helicopter and headed to the meeting place with Putin. They will hold a one-on-one meeting: they will discuss bilateral relations, union projects and the economy in an informal setting. The focus will also be on the international agenda and regional security. Part of the program will be open to the media.