Belarus is of high strategic value in Putin's war against Ukraine. Now the Russian President is traveling to the country of ruler Lukashenko for the first time in three years. From Minsk there is also a message to Europe.
Belarusian ruler Alexander Lukashenko received Kremlin chief Vladimir Putin at Minsk airport on a red carpet with pastries and salt. This is shown by images from the pro-government Belarusian Telegram channel Pool Pervogo. The two former Soviet republics are close allies, with Lukashenko's government totally dependent on Moscow politically, economically and militarily after sanctions imposed by the West.
At their meeting, the two heads of state want to discuss the "strategic partnership" between their countries, according to the Kremlin. It is Putin's first visit to Belarus in three years. It came on the day the Russian army announced it would be holding "tactical" military maneuvers there. Even before their President Putin, Russia's Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu had flown to neighboring Belarus for talks.
Regarding Putin's reception, Lukashenko said Minsk and Moscow remain open to dialogue with other European states. "I hope that they will soon hear reason there and we will move on to a constructive discussion on the issues of common security and the future world order," he said.
The Ukrainian government recently expressed fears that there could be a Russian offensive on Kyiv in the first few months of 2023, which would be launched from Belarusian territory. So from the north. Ukraine has also repeatedly expressed concern that Belarus could intervene in the conflict with its own troops.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Putin did not travel to Belarus to persuade Minsk to take direct part in the Ukraine conflict. Such assumptions are "stupid" and "unfounded," said Peskow.
Belarus announced in October that it was setting up a joint military alliance with Russia. Thousands of Russian soldiers are to be stationed in Belarus for this purpose. However, head of state Lukashenko had repeatedly stated that he was not planning to send soldiers to Ukraine. Kremlin ally Lukashenko has been in power in Belarus since 1994.
