Negotiations between Putin and Lukashenko: about the Union State, Donbass and the West

MOSCOW: In a press conference with his Belarusian counterpart Alexander Lukashenko, Russian President Vladimir Putin downplays any potential threat posed by military drills on Ukraine's borders, insisting they "are purely defensive in nature and do not threaten anyone". Putin also claims that there is a "deterioration of the situation" in the Donbass.

Alexander Lukashenko to discuss with Vladimir Putin cooperation . in the trade and economic sphere, international issues, security in the region, opposition to Western sanctions and 
the implementation of the Union State Treaty.

Alexander Lukashenko, following the results of negotiations with Vladimir Putin, announced the stupidity of Western leaders and that Russia and Belarus would jointly oppose the West. How?

The previous meeting took place at the end of December. Then Putin and Lukashenko confirmed plans to hold joint military exercises between the two countries.

“We are in regular contact with you, but this year we are meeting in person for the first time, we have something to talk about, compare watches on a number of positions,” the Russian leader said.

He noted that the past year was quite productive in terms of bilateral cooperation. Putin also added that the countries have made serious progress in building the Union State.

"Our colleagues have worked hard, 28 programs have prepared good ones. In fact, development has been going on for a long time in many of these areas," he said. The leaders also plan to discuss the regional situation and cooperation in the military sphere.

The meeting of the leaders took place in the Kremlin near the fireplace at a small table. "From PCR?" the Russian president asked before the meeting with Lukashenka and after that he warmly hugged him.
“We have been here for a long time,” he replied, indicating that he was waiting for the results of a coronavirus test.

The talks are taking place against the backdrop of a deteriorating situation in Eastern Europe. In recent months, the West has been accusing Moscow of preparing an "invasion" of Ukraine and is increasing its presence in the region.

But, as you rightly said, the development of the economy already indicates that they will not succeed, they will not be able to strangle us in any way. I think we will agree on giving greater momentum here.

And the military-political spectrum, today, with the help of our, as you say, Western partners, it has taken a leading position: we have to respond both in terms of our military exercises and diplomacy. I think that they are unlikely to succeed here either, they lost the first round very badly. Today, I see, they are already entering the second round, scaring the whole world with the fact that tomorrow we will attack Ukraine, encircle it, destroy it, and so on, although we never had any plans - no matter how much we discussed these issues - never.

But we will teach people how to fight - you can't get away from it. Yesterday I was at the Belarusian-Russian exercises, I looked at both Russian and Belarusian units. There were many foreigners, journalists, very impressive. As you said, tomorrow, if everything goes well, we will be with you at an interesting event. 

Moscow denies all claims, emphasizing that all this is just a pretext for strengthening NATO near the Russian borders. In addition, according to the Kremlin and the Foreign Ministry, the hysteria unleashed by Washington and Brussels is aimed at covering up Kiev's line of sabotaging the Minsk agreements on Donbass.