Russia: Putin meets Belarusian President Lukashenko on sidelines of BRICS summit

Russian President Vladimir Putin met with his Belarusian counterpart Alexander Lukashenko to discuss bilateral relations on the sidelines of the seventh BRICS summit in Ufa, Wednesday. Putin touted the ties between the two nations, calling Belarus Russia's "close strategic partner and ally," lauding their cooperation on all levels. He went on to congratulate Belarus' integration into the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO). Lukashenko responded by praising the SCO for developing as a major player in the global arena, saying that organisation will benefit people all over the world. He also quipped that Russian Finance Minister no longer had to rebuke Belarus for "turning West." The BRICS summit comes ahead of the 15th meeting of the Council of Heads of State of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) on July 9 and 10, which will also be held in Ufa. In total, 10,000 visitors are expected at the two events.