The Forum of Regions of Belarus and Ukraine has kicked off in Zhytomyr on Thursday. The business cooperation advisory council is to hold a session today.
Several documents on cooperation between regions of Ukraine and Belarus are expected to be signed at the forum.
The meeting of Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky and his Belarusian counterpart Alyaksandr Lukashenka is scheduled for October, 4. During the talks, the two leaders will discuss major aspects of the bilateral relations.
In addition to trade and economic cooperation, Zelensky and Lukashenka might raise the issue of the would-be prisoner swap between Ukraine and Belarus.
Interestingly, Lukashenka said in the run-up to the second round of the elections in Ukraine that Volodymyr Zelensky was unlikely to become President and warned the Ukrainians against voting him.
In turn, when being a comedian, Zelensky often made fun of Lukashenka in his performances.
On July 8, Volodymyr Zelensky offered Vladimir Putin to come to Minsk and discuss the issues of Crimea and Donbas, According to him, US president Donald Trump, UK Prime Minister Theresa May, German chancellor Angela Merkel, French president Emmanuel Macron should also take part in the would-be summit.
“Need to talk? Yes, we do. Let’s talk. Let’s discuss whose Crimea is and who does not have any troops in Donbas <…> What about a venue? I think Alyaksandr Lukashenka would be happy to host us in Minsk,” the Ukrainian president said.
