Enlarge image
War partners on Black Sea excursion: Russian President Vladimir Putin (right) and his Belarusian counterpart Alexander Lukashenko at a meeting in Sochi in May 2021
Photo: Sergei Ilyin / imago images / ITAR-TASS
Most recently, the Belarusian dictator Alexander Lukashenko was always quoted for meetings in Russia - now there should be a return visit for the first time in three years.
Russian President Vladimir Putin is coming to Minsk for talks on Monday, reports the Belarusian President's website.
The Kremlin did not initially confirm the date.
According to Minsk, both a one-on-one meeting and a larger round of talks with members of the government and ministers are planned.
It should be about trade relations and economic policy cooperation as well as the energy sector.
It is also said that "security issues" will be given "great attention" and that the situation in the region will be exchanged.
No more allies - with the exception of Lukashenko
Specifically, it should be about the Ukraine war.
Russia attacked their common neighbor a good ten months ago under the pretext of having to protect people of Russian origin in the country from alleged "fascists".
Despite military superiority, the Russian army could not record any major land gains.
However, Ukraine is now facing a harsh winter: large parts of the infrastructure were bombed by Russia.
At least 6,755 Ukrainian civilians, including at least 424 children, were killed between the beginning of the war and the beginning of December, according to counts by the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights.
Internationally, Russia has been largely isolated since the attack – dictator Lukashenko is an exception here.
The Belarusian ruler is politically and economically dependent on Putin.
At the beginning of the invasion, he enabled the Russian army to advance towards Ukraine via Belarusian territory.
The dictator also provides military bases for attacks on Ukraine, but denies accusations of being a party to the war.
Mr
