MOSCOW 

Russian President Vladimir Putin said Tuesday that his country and Belarus plan to establish a joint aviation factory to manufacture drones and other products.

Speaking at a meeting with his Belarusian counterpart, Alexander Lukashenko, in the Russian city of Volgograd, Putin said the two leaders reached an agreement to enhance industrial collaboration, specifically through joint ventures in aircraft manufacturing.

“We are prepared to jointly establish a factory along with your experts, complete with a specialized drone lab,” he said.

Putin noted that Russia and Belarus have extensive experience in aircraft cooperative projects stemming from the Soviet era.

He also noted plans to explore additional spheres of partnership with Lukashenko.

“Our respective governments continuously engage in collaborative efforts. Both you and I are informed about the agreements being finalized by our teams,” he said.