Belarus leader states condition ‘escalating’ ahead of rare Putin pay a visit to

Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko is striking a defiant tone in advance of a rare assembly this week with Russian President Vladimir Putin amid growing problems that Belarus could be pulled into Russia’s war in Ukraine.

Lukashenko, emphasizing his country’s sovereignty at a Friday assembly in Minsk on Russia-Belarus cooperation, explained the situation was “escalating” as he prepares to discuss with Putin on Monday.

The Belarusian chief refuted the “whispering” in his region that “Russians are now strolling and functioning the region.”

“I would like to emphasize this function at the time all over again: no one, except us, governs Belarus,” Lukashenko reported, according to remarks posted by the presidential push provider. “We must always continue from the fact that we are a sovereign point out and independent.”

Putin will vacation to Belarus and fulfill with Lukashenko on Monday in his initial state stop by to the country in a few decades.

The two leaders are expected to discuss “key aspects” of their partnership as perfectly as other worldwide and regional problems, a assertion from the Kremlin claimed.

Lukashenko previous week explained the major subject would be economics but additional he and Putin will also explore protection and stability in the region, according to the Belarusian presidential press support.

Belarus served as a staging ground for Russia early in the war from Ukraine when Putin mobilized troops and arms that he sent into Ukraine in late February.

In October, Belarus also deployed hundreds of troops with Russia to perform joint army drills, renewing fears that Putin’s ally would commit forces to the war.

But Lukashenko has resisted joining the war specifically, even as Ukrainian officials warn Russia is ramping up attempts to rope its neighbor into the conflict.

In the meeting on Friday in Minsk, Lukashenko defended his repeated meetings with Putin and Russian leaders, stating it was crucial to coordinate and respond to “tactical issues” this sort of as financial sanctions from the West.

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Lukashenko also emphasized solid ties with Russia and stressed that Belarus would “never be enemies” with the state.

“This is the condition closest to us, the peoples closest to us,” he stated. “I believe that as long as we are in ability, we will adhere to this development. If it have been or else, it would be like in Ukraine.”

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