Belarus, Russia quash talk of imminent Putin-led merger

Belarus' president on Friday rebutted speculation that his two days of meetings with Vladimir Putin were aimed at quick creation of a Belarus-Russian union state that Putin could head once he leaves the Russian presidency next year.

Putin is constitutionally obliged to leave office at the end of his second term.

His visit to Belarus to discuss a long-dormant proposed merger of the two countries raised suggestions that he could be seeking to head a new, single state.