By — Associated Press Associated Press By — Matt O'Brien, Associated Press Matt O'Brien, Associated Press Leave your feedback Share Copy URL https://www.pbs.org/newshour/world/leader-of-belarus-gives-putin-a-tractor-as-gift-for-his-70th-birthday Email Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Pinterest Tumblr Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Leader of Belarus gives Putin a tractor as gift for his 70th birthday World Oct 7, 2022 11:40 AM EDT ST. PETERSBURG, Russia (AP) — Russian President Vladimir Putin got an unusual gift for his 70th birthday on Friday: a tractor. As the leaders of several ex-Soviet nations met at the Czarist-era Konstantin Palace in St. Petersburg, President Alexander Lukashenko of Belarus presented Putin with a gift certificate for the vehicle. Tractors have been the pride of Belarusian industry since Soviet times. READ MORE: Putin finalizes annexation of Ukrainian regions as Russian forces struggle to maintain control Lukashenko, an autocratic leader who has ruled the ex-Soviet nation with an iron hand for nearly three decades while cultivating a man of the people image, told reporters he used a model in his garden similar to the one he gifted Putin. It wasn’t clear how the Russian leader responded to the gift, which Lukashenko’s office revealed. Putin didn’t mention the gift in televised remarks at the start of the meeting when he talked about the need to discuss ways of settling conflicts between ex-Soviet nations. READ MORE: Putin declares Ukrainian regions part of Russia, defies West as NATO talks heat up He also emphasized the need to exchange information to fight terrorism, illegal drugs and other crime. The leaders of the Commonwealth of Independent States, a loose alliance of ex-Soviet nations, have another gathering to attend next week in Kazakhstan’s capital of Astana. We're not going anywhere. Stand up for truly independent, trusted news that you can count on! Donate now By — Associated Press Associated Press By — Matt O'Brien, Associated Press Matt O'Brien, Associated Press
ST. PETERSBURG, Russia (AP) — Russian President Vladimir Putin got an unusual gift for his 70th birthday on Friday: a tractor. As the leaders of several ex-Soviet nations met at the Czarist-era Konstantin Palace in St. Petersburg, President Alexander Lukashenko of Belarus presented Putin with a gift certificate for the vehicle. Tractors have been the pride of Belarusian industry since Soviet times. READ MORE: Putin finalizes annexation of Ukrainian regions as Russian forces struggle to maintain control Lukashenko, an autocratic leader who has ruled the ex-Soviet nation with an iron hand for nearly three decades while cultivating a man of the people image, told reporters he used a model in his garden similar to the one he gifted Putin. It wasn’t clear how the Russian leader responded to the gift, which Lukashenko’s office revealed. Putin didn’t mention the gift in televised remarks at the start of the meeting when he talked about the need to discuss ways of settling conflicts between ex-Soviet nations. READ MORE: Putin declares Ukrainian regions part of Russia, defies West as NATO talks heat up He also emphasized the need to exchange information to fight terrorism, illegal drugs and other crime. The leaders of the Commonwealth of Independent States, a loose alliance of ex-Soviet nations, have another gathering to attend next week in Kazakhstan’s capital of Astana. We're not going anywhere. Stand up for truly independent, trusted news that you can count on! Donate now