President of Belarus Holds Talks with Russian Defence Minister

Aleksandr Lukashenko, President of the Republic of Belarus, said during his meeting with Sergei Shoigu, Russian Defence Minister, that the West does not follow the agreements under the Budapest Memorandum, where the Republic was promised security guarantees in exchange for the withdrawal of nuclear weapons. Therefore, during a recent meeting with Vladimir Putin, President of Russia, the Belarusian leader asked that Russia guarantee Belarus’ protection in case of external aggression. 

Mr Lukashenko recalled that Russian troops from the regional force grouping are currently stationed in Belarus.

“I am grateful to you that despite all the difficulties you are deploying several thousand Russian servicemen here. We have joined this process to the necessary extent. We train them together with your officers and conduct tactical coordination,” said the Belarusian head of state. 

Sergei Shoigu, in turn, promised to raise the issue of the further stay of the Russian military in the territory of the Republic and the possible expansion of the framework for the Belarus–Russia cooperation.

As you may recall, last week Mr Lukashenko paid a working visit to Russia. On April 5, the leaders of the two states met in the Kremlin and the next day took part in a meeting of the Supreme State Council of the Union State. They agreed that Moscow and Minsk would prepare a security concept for the Union State in view of the growing tensions in the world.