MOSCOW (AP) — Russian President Vladimir Putin arrived in Uzbekistan’s capital on Sunday, where he will hold talks with President Shavkay Mirziyoyev that are expected to focus on deepening ties between the countries.
Putin laid a wreath at a commemoration of Uzbekistan’s independence in Tashkent and held informal talks with Mirziyoyev, according to the Kremlin. The formal meeting of the presidents will take place on Monday.
The visit is Putin’s third trip abroad since his fifth term in office in May. He went first to China, where he expressed his appreciation for Chinese proposals for talks to end the conflict in Ukraine, and later to Belarus, where Russia has deployed tactical nuclear weapons.
Before the trip to Uzbekistan, Putin and Mirziyoyev discussed a range of bilateral cooperation issues, including trade and economic ties, the Kremlin said.
