The subject of some controversy, an official visit by Russian premier Dimitry Medvedev began on Tuesday afternoon with a meeting with Xavier Bettel, a visit of the Luxembourg City History Museum and dinner. On Wednesday the two government leaders will head a more expansive working meeting.

Bettel and Medvedev, who held bilateral talks in Moscow in October 2017, will also be present when minister for the economy Étienne Schneider and Russian deputy prime minister Tatiana Golikova sign an agreement to cooperate on modernising the two countries’ economies and culture ministers Sam Tanson and Vladimir Medinsky will also put their names to an agreement on cultural cooperation covering the next three years.  

Some commentators have criticised the visit, saying it shows Bettel to be holding double standards following the praise lavished on him for his stance against homophobia at the EU-Arab League summit last week. Meanwhile, the US embassy said the visit gave the Luxembourg government a unique opportunity, “just after the fifth anniversary of the illegal annexation of Crimea by Russia… to forcefully call on Russia to reverse course and leave Crimea”.

Delano will have more on the meetings and US reaction on Thursday.