Russian President Vladimir Putin arrived in Minsk on Monday afternoon for an official visit, the first in three years, during which he will have a “packed schedule” of meeting with his Belarusian counterpart, Alexander Lukashenko, Russian news agency TASS reported.

Vladimir Putin and Alexander LukashenkoPhoto: Gavriil Grigorov / Sputnik / Profimedia

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After the meeting in the “tete-a-tete” format, the two leaders will hold a joint meeting and take questions from the press, the state agency reports.

Russian state television showed footage of Putin exiting the plane before being warmly greeted by a welcoming committee on the runway of Minsk airport in freezing temperatures.

Putin was greeted with bread and flowers by two young women when he got off the plane.

The Kremlin leader then hugged Lukashenka, after which they went together to the Independence Palace in Minsk for an official meeting, Belta news agency reports.

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