According to President Vladimir Putin, Russia has “no interest” in annexing neighboring Belarus. “Russia has no interest in swallowing anyone, 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 their cooperation “in all areas”, most notably in the defense sector. These are joint measures to ensure the security of both countries, such as mutual arms deliveries and joint armaments production.
Russia will also continue training Belarusian soldiers on Soviet-design 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 the sanctions of enemy states,” Putin said.
Belarus announced in October that it was setting up a joint military alliance with Russia. Thousands of Russian soldiers are to be stationed in Belarus for this purpose. However, head of state Alexander Lukashenko had repeatedly stated that he was not planning to send soldiers to Ukraine.
Kremlin ally Lukashenko has been in power in Belarus since 1994. Belarus is heavily dependent on Russian oil and cheap credit.