MOSCOW, July 15. /TASS/. Intensive contacts between Presidents Vladimir Putin of Russia and Alexander Lukashenko of Belarus indicate a possible breakthrough in terms of integration, head of the Center for Belarusian Studies at the Russian Academy of Sciences’ Institute of Europe Nikolai Mezhevich told TASS.

"I feel that an integration breakthrough is on the way. Judging by the number of meetings and the amount of time the two presidents spend together, active efforts are underway to thoroughly agree plans based on the situation along our borders," the expert pointed out. "In my view, it would be an impossible situation where fundamental external changes, namely the fourth package of sanctions, won’t influence relations between the two countries," he added.

The expert highlighted the lack of information about the agreements that Russia and Belarus are working on. According to Mezhevich, there are countries that oppose the development of Russia-Belarus cooperation, as well as forces in the two countries that are skeptical about efforts to boost integration.

Russian Presidential Spokesman Dmitry Peskov said following Tuesday’s meeting between Putin and Lukashenko that the parties had agreed on loan support to Belarus in connection with the tax maneuver in Russia. Belarusian Presidential Spokesperson Natalya Eismont, in turn, said on Wednesday that the heads of state had ordered their governments to develop a joint plan aimed at countering Western sanctions.