MOSCOW (Archyde.com) – Belarusian President Lukashenko asked Russian Defense Minister Shoigu for assurances that Russia would defend itself if attacked, at a meeting in the capital Minsk on Wednesday. State news agency Berta reported.
At the meeting, Lukashenko said he had previously discussed the issue with Putin and agreed that security guarantees were necessary and should be formalized.
“At the meeting[with Putin]there was talk to the effect that if Belarus was invaded, Russia would defend Belarus as its own territory. This is the security[guarantee]we need,” he said. Stated.
Since the end of last year, military drills and visits by high-ranking Russian officials have sprung up, sparking speculation that Belarus may formally participate in Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. President Lukashenko has consistently denied such speculation, but has vowed to respond to any attempts to invade his territory or incite unrest.