Russian President Vladimir Putin and Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko visited the Smolensky Skete of the Transfiguration Valaam Stavropegic Monastery on Valaam Island. The Kremlin press service released footage of the visit on August 1.

Lukashenko arrived in St. Petersburg earlier in the day where he was greeted by Alexander Drozdenko, the Governor of the Leningrad Region. He then boarded a helicopter that transported him to Valaam.

This is not the first time the two leaders have met at this location. Putin and Lukashenko also held meetings on Valaam in 2023 and 2024.

During their visit last year, Putin and Lukashenko discussed further actions regarding Ukraine.