Vladimir Putin, the Russian president, and Alexander Lukashenko, the president of Belarus, are to hold talks on closer integration between their countries

Russia and Belarus are on the verge of signing an economic integration deal which could be the first step in a plan to keep President Putin in power beyond his term limit of 2024.

Dmitry Medvedev, the prime minister of Russia, said in a television interview today that Mr Putin and President Lukashenko of Belarus would hold talks on Saturday.

The two leaders are expected to agree integration that would include the formation of a Russian-Belarussian economic confederacy by 2022 with a single tax code and civil code, as well as a unified oil, gas and electricity market.

Analysts say it could be a precursor to greater political integration that would offer Mr Putin, 67, a new role as head of a joint state,