According to President Vladimir Putin, Russia has “no interest” in annexing neighboring Belarus. “Russia has no interest in swallowing anybody, it just wouldn’t make sense,” Putin told a journalist at a press conference in Minsk yesterday. Putin made the statement after a meeting with Belarusian ruler Alexander Lukashenko.
According to Putin, after “substantial” talks, both reached an agreement to increase cooperation “in all areas”, mainly in the defense sector. These are joint measures to ensure the security of both countries, such as mutual delivery of weapons and joint production of weapons.
Russia will also continue training Belarusian soldiers in Soviet-designed aircraft capable of carrying nuclear bombs, Putin said on his first visit to Belarus in three years.
Close ties between “allies”
The Kremlin chief referred to the close relationship between the “allies and strategic partners” who are “united by a common history and spiritual values”. “Together we can withstand sanctions from enemy states,” Putin said.
Belarus announced in October that it was establishing a joint military alliance with Russia. Thousands of Russian soldiers will be stationed in Belarus for this purpose. However, head of state Alexander Lukashenko has repeatedly stated that he does not plan to send troops to Ukraine.
Lukashenko, a Kremlin ally, has been in power in Belarus since 1994. Belarus is heavily dependent on Russian oil and cheap credit.