VIDEO: Russian President Putin plays ice hockey with Belarus leader

Russian President Vladimir Putin hosted the leader of Belarus for another round of difficult talks on closer integration amid mounting Moscow's economic pressure on its ex-Soviet ally.

After the talks, Putin and Lukashenko played ice hockey in a gesture of friendship. Both leaders long have practiced the sport, and played several times together in recent years.

Putin and Lukashenko met twice in December but failed to resolve their differences, resulting in Russia cutting oil supplies to Belarus at the start of this year.

Lukashenko and Putin smiled broadly as they sat down for talks at Putin's residence in Russia's Black Sea resort of Sochi.

"I think it will be a fruitful day,” Putin said after the two leaders met one-to-one. Aides would join them at a second meeting, he said.

Vladimir Putin and Alexander Lukashenko greet each other during the match. AP

Lukashenko noted that along with discussing the Russia-Belarus alliance, he and Putin touched on issues related to other ex-Soviet nations.

The Kremlin has argued that Belarus, which relies on Russia for most of its energy needs, should accept greater economic integration if it wants to continue receiving Russian resources at subsidized prices.