MOSCOW: Russian President Vladmir Putin and Belarusian leader Alexander Lukashenko spoke by telephone on Monday and discussed the situation in Belarus, the Belta news agency reported.

The Belarusian state-run agency also reported the two leaders had agreed that Belarusians would take part in Phase Three trials of Russia's coronavirus vaccine.

Belarus would be the first foreign country to receive deliveries of the vaccine, Belta added.

Russia is a close ally of Belarus where Lukashenko is facing the biggest challenge of his 26-year rule, amid protests over a disputed August 9 presidential election.