Putin to discuss Ukraine with leaders of Armenia, Belarus, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan Thur

MOSCOW, May 8 (Itar-Tass) - Russian President Vladimir Putin will gather the presidents of Armenia, Belarus, Kyrgyzsan and Tajikistan for an informal meeting on Thursday, presidential press-secretary Dmitry Peskov said on Wednesday. The Ukrainian crisis will be among the themes to be discussed. “There will be a general exchange of opinion and separate bilateral meetings. Bilateral relations and collective security issues will be discussed first and foremost,” Peskov said. “One can say with certainty that the leaders will discuss Ukraine by all means.” Putin is scheduled to hold at least two bilateral meetings - with Armenia’s President Serzh Sargsyan and Kyrgyz President Almazbek Atambayev. As the chief of the Kyrgyz presidential staff, Sapar Isakov said, Bishkek hopes to look into the details of Kyrgyzstan’s admission to the Customs Union. Also, Kyrgyzstan would like to consider a number of joint projects, including the construction of a Russia-Kazakhstan-Kyrgyzstan-Tajikistan railway to China and Rosneft’s acquisition of a stake in Bishkek’s international airport Manas. Learn more on itar-tass.com