MOSCOW - Russian President Vladimir Putin told Belarusian counterpart Alexander Lukashenko during their meeting on Friday that Russia has produced and deployed the first serial "Oreshnik" missile complex to its troops.

"Serial production is fully operational," Putin said.

The two leaders also discussed deploying the system in Belarus. Lukashenko said the military plans to deploy it this year, with preparations already underway at selected sites.

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"We will most likely resolve this issue by the end of the year," Putin said.

Last November, Russia successfully tested the medium-range missile, later using it in a strike on a Ukrainian military-industrial site in response to US and British arms supplies to Ukraine.