Monday, December 19, Vladimir Putin traveled to Belarus to meet Alexander Lukashenko. This is the Russian president’s first visit to his closest ally in three and a half years.

Will Putin pressure Lukashenko to attack Ukraine?

Commentators point out that Putin’s visit to Belarus raises concerns that his main objective will not be persuade Lukashenka to get directly involved in the attack on Ukraine. It should be remembered that Belarus and Russia have a strong alliance. In December 1999, the Union of Belarus and Russia was created.

As its name suggests, it is an organization which must lead to the integration of these countries, mainly in the economic field – including common fiscal, monetary and customs systems – but also military. Putin’s spokesman Dmitry Peskov called the speculation about pressure on Lukashenko “completely stupid” and “baseless”.

– Belarus is Russia’s most important ally and partner. It is with Belarus that we have the highest level of integration, so there is no constraint. Everyone takes actions that are most in line with the interests of our nations or the interests of our allied state,” Peskov said.

“We will discuss the main socio-economic issues”

As Belarusian state news agency “Belta” reported, Putin and Lukashenko met at the Independence Palace in central Minsk. The Belarusian dictator told reporters in the building that the main purpose of the meeting was to “together solve the economic problems” on which the “well-being of the people depends”.

– Russia and Belarus, as we often speak with Vladimir, are open to dialogue with other countries, including European ones. I hope that soon we will hear the voice of reason there and move on to a constructive discussion, both on general security and on the future world order (…) Our main problems lately have been the questions of defense and security (…) Halfway through We agreed to meet in December and discuss the main socio-economic issues,” Lukashenko said.

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“Belarus is not only our good neighbour”

Putin confirmed that the purpose of his visit to Minsk was to discuss economic issues. He announced, among other things, the increase in exchanges between Belarus and Russia, the involvement of Russia – even “to its own detriment” – in the development of nuclear energy in Belarus or the tightening of cooperation in space. This must be a response to the sanctions imposed on the two countries by the West.

– We would like to summarize some of the results, mainly in the economic field. I would like to emphasize that Belarus is not only our good neighbor with whom we have cooperated for all the previous decades, keeping mutual interests in mind, but it is also our ally in the truest sense of the word, said Putin.

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