Serhiy Nayev, commander of the Ukrainian joint forces, said that Putin’s visit would increase aggression against Ukraine. Along with this, the army of Ukraine can also increase its role in this whole war. This statement of Ukraine has come at a time when Lukashenko has repeatedly said that his country is heavily dependent on Russia but we will not jump into the Ukraine war. Meanwhile, Ukraine’s President Zelensky has said that Russia is preparing for another gruesome attack in the new year.
‘Maintain defense lines along the border with Belarus’
Zelensky said that he would have to prepare himself for all kinds of defense against Putin and his allies. He also said that protecting Ukraine’s border is an ongoing priority for him. Meanwhile, Ukraine is beefing up security along its border with Belarus amid fears Russia is preparing a new offensive. A Kyiv minister has confirmed this. Speaking to the BBC on Monday night, Deputy Interior Minister Yevgen Yesenin said, ‘We are building our defense lines along the border with Russia and Belarus.’
The Ukrainian President said that Ukraine will strengthen the Belarusian border with armed forces and ammunition. Yesenin’s remarks came shortly after it was reported that Russian President Vladimir Putin had traveled to Minsk to meet with his Belarusian counterpart and ally Alexander Lukashenko. Belarus shares borders with Russia to the east and northeast, Ukraine to the south, Poland to the west, and Lithuania and Latvia to the northwest. The BBC reported that Belarus had allowed Russian troops to use its territory to launch an invasion on 24 February.
No intention to merge Belarus with Russia: Putin
Putin and Lukashenko met in Minsk for the first time in three and a half years when President Putin met him in Belarus. Monday’s meeting, described as a ‘work trip’, went on for more than two hours. In a joint press conference, Putin said that Russia does not want to oppress anyone. Lukashenko thanked Putin for providing Belarus with the S-400 air defense system and the Iskander ballistic missile system. Putin also said that he has no intention of annexing Belarus to Russia. Explain that Russia has been wanting for a long time that Belarus should unite with Russia but Lukashenko is opposing this integration.
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