Russian President Vladimir Putin played a game of ice hockey in St. Petersburg with his Belarusian counterpart Alexander Lukashenko after their diplomatic talks on Wednesday (December 29).
The Russian President donned his favoured number 11 jersey during a decisive 18-7 win in an ice hockey game. The friendly match was played after bilateral talks were broadcast on state television.
Lukashenko was given the coveted number one shirt as he played for the same team as Putin, who was nothing short of a Most Valuable Player (MVP) after scoring seven goals. Meanwhile, Lukashenko scored two goals.
The leaders were also joined by the Belarusian’s son Nikolai during the match at the Manezh children’s and youth sports school in Strelna.
ALSO READ | We are in the mood for a conversation, says Russia ahead of Putin-Biden phone call
Watch the video here:
VIDEO: Russian President Vladimir Putin and his Belarusian counterpart Alexander Lukashenko play ice hockey after holding diplomatic talks.
Both presidents played on the same team – Putin scoring 7 goals and Lukashenko 2, with the leaders coasting home in an 18:7 drubbing pic.twitter.com/JRqWFDufvO
— Der politische Kater! 🙀😹🙀😹🙀😹🙀😹 (@GrunkohlProblem) December 30, 2021
Putin said earlier on Wednesday that Russia and Belarus plan to hold joint military drills in February or March 2022.
The planned exercises, on Belarusian territory, has been announced amid unprecedented East-West tensions, with Russia demanding that NATO promise not to admit Ukraine, which borders both Russia and Belarus.
On the other hand, Ukraine says Russia may be preparing for an invasion, something Moscow had denied.
