Putin lands in Minsk

December 19, BPN. Vladimir Putin has landed in Minsk to meet Alaksandr Łukašenka.

The two leaders are expected to hold talks at the Independence Palace, face-to-face as well as with officials. They were expected to discuss integration, economy, energy and security, the Belarusian leader’s press office reported.

Officials in Kyiv say Russia might be pushing Belarus towards joining a ground operation in Ukraine.

This is Putin’s first visit to Belarus since 2019.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and Defense Minister Sergey Shoygu reportedly arrived in the Belarusian capital earlier in the day.