• Thu. Nov 21st, 2024

Concern Over Putin’s Visit to Belarus

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:%D0%92%D0%BB%D0%B0%D0%B4%D0%B8%D0%BC%D0%B8%D1%80_%D0%9F%D1%83%D1%82%D0%B8%D0%BD_(18-06-2023)_(cropped).jpg

Putin issued an official statement that he was going on a work trip to Belarus to meet with President Alexander Lukashenko. http://en.kremlin.ru/press/announcements/70091

Ahead of the meeting, Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko appears to have struck a defiant tone concerning his visit with Russian President Vladamir Putin. Lukashenko has mentioned in the past that Belarusian troops would not be drafted into the Russian – Ukraine war. There are growing concerns over this happening in light of the circumstances that the war has been going badly for Russia. However according to the official press release, the main topic for talks will be the economy as well as defense and security matters: https://president.gov.by/en/events/aleksandr-lukashenko-19-dekabrya-provedet-peregovory-s-prezidentom-rossiyskoy-federacii-vladimirom-putinym-1671174894

While Belarus had conducted military drills with Russian troops and served as the staging ground for Russian troops early in the war, Lukashenko has resisted getting directly involved in the fighting though individual Belarusians have assisted Ukrainian troops with their goal of ousting Lukashenko.

https://www.euronews.com/2022/10/17/belarusians-fight-for-ukraine-with-an-eye-on-ousting-lukashenko

https://theconversation.com/fighting-for-a-future-the-belarusian-regiment-in-ukraine-is-staking-its-claim-on-democracy-195282