The President of the Russian Federation, Vladimir Putin, stated that the CIS countries continue to cooperate, despite the differences between them, and strive to jointly solve problematic issues.

“The key area of cooperation between the CIS countries is maintaining security and stability in our common Eurasian region. Unfortunately, the challenges and threats in this field, first of all, from the outside, are only increasing year by year. It must be admitted that differences also arise between the member states of the Commonwealth of Nations. The main thing is that we are ready and will cooperate. Even if problematic issues arise, we strive to solve them ourselves, together, providing each other with friendly and mediating assistance,” Putin said in his speech at the informal summit of CIS leaders.

The Russian President also thanked the leaders of the CIS member states for going to St. Petersburg for the informal meeting. He also noted that, as a rule, such informal meetings of heads of state of the Commonwealth of Nations “are very effective”.