Russian President Vladimir Putin and Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko held a summit on the 17th (local time) to discuss the war in Ukraine and expansion of military and economic cooperation.
According to the Associated Press and CNN, President Putin and President Lukashenko held a meeting at the official residence of Novo-Ogaryovo outside Moscow.
President Putin said that Belarus preserves Soviet-era industrial assets and said, “Our efforts will create synergies when combined.” “This could be very efficient in some areas and could have good results for both Belarus and Russia,” he stressed.
Lukashenko noted that factories in Belarus manufactured parts for Russian airliners, and that with Russian support they could “build” Soviet-designed ground attack aircraft.
The Associated Press noted that Belarus had repaired several Soviet-built SU-25 attack aircraft in the past, but it was unclear how they would be able to resume production of the planes, which had long been suspended.
However, President Lukashenko highly appreciated the importance of defense relations with Russia and expressed support for Russia’s actions against Ukraine, but emphasized that he would only send Belarusian troops to Ukraine if his country was attacked.
He told reporters on the 16th that he was “ready to fight alongside Russia,” but “in case at least one soldier comes to Belarus and kills my people.”
“If they launch an attack on Belarus, there will be the toughest response,” Lukashenko said. War will take on a completely new character.”
President Putin has pushed the Russian troops deployed in southern Belarus into northern Ukraine as they were under the pretext of joint training. Belarus and Ukraine share a border about 1000 km long. At the time of the invasion, President Putin attacked three sides of Ukraine at the same time: east, south and north.
As Russian forces continue to deploy in Belarus in recent days, fears are growing in Ukraine that a new attack could launch across the border from the north.
Source: Donga
Mark Jones is a world traveler and journalist for News Rebeat. With a curious mind and a love of adventure, Mark brings a unique perspective to the latest global events and provides in-depth and thought-provoking coverage of the world at large.