Lukashenko unexpectedly flew to Putin/Getty Images
The self-proclaimed President of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko suddenly flew to the head of the aggressor state Vladimir Putin. Although before that it was reported that Putin should go to Grodno.
On the morning of June 22, Russian telegram channels wrote that Lukashenka was going to fly to Putin, Channel 24 reports. Now this information has been confirmed.
The visit is not for a day
Thus, Lukashenka flew from Orsha to St. Petersburg on his Boeing 737-800. Registration number EW-001PA. The media write that it is not a one-day visit. Russian media say that Putin will meet with Lukashenka in St. Petersburg on Saturday, June 25.
Kremlin Speaker Dmitry Peskov, answering the question: “Will Putin be in Grodno?”, said that this would be reported additionally. At the same time, he added that the meeting is possible even before this forum.
Putin was supposed to come to Belarus
The day before, Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin said that Putin and Lukashenka would meet within the framework of the Forum of Regions of Belarus and Russia”, which will be held in Grodno from June 30 to July 1. However, Lukashenka's sudden flight to St. Petersburg calls into question Putin's arrival in Belarus.
By the way, Russian opposition politician Gennady Gudkov noted that the only explanation why Putin would arrive in Minsk personally is to demonstrate that he is alive and well and capable of action.
The threat of attack from Belarus: latest news
- There are up to 7 Belarusian battalions on the border with Ukraine in Belarus. In addition, the country's Ministry of Defense announced “mobilization exercises” from June 22 to July 1 in the Gomel region.
- The State Border Service informed that Belarus is indeed reinforcing a section of the border with Ukraine. However, not a single strike group that could have made an invasion has yet been detected.
- At the same time, President Volodymyr Zelensky instructed to check the readiness for an attack from Belarus in 4 regions.
- On the night of 22 June, a new batch of Russian missile launchers for the S-300 air defense system was brought to Belarus – at least 16 missiles, as well as, probably, one Pantsir air defense system.
- According to experts, the Belarusians themselves will not fight against Ukraine want. However, Putin is putting pressure on Lukashenka, as Belarus remains perhaps Russia's most important ally.
