

It has launched air attacks from Belarusian airfields and Russia has recently forward-deployed tactical nuclear weapons on its neighbour's soil. Russia has mounted military operations against Ukraine from Belarusian soil. However, behind the rhetoric, Russia is steadily increasing the number of Russian military forces in Belarus. Any attack on Belarus will be considered an attack against Russia and will provoke an appropriate response. President Putin framed the discussions as Russia providing security guarantees to Belarus. Lukashenko is a "puppet" of the Putin regime and has been described as the "last European dictator".

Belarusian leader Alexander Lukashenko met Russian President Vladimir Putin earlier today, ostensibly to discuss developing a strategic partnership between the two countries.
