Opposition and Western nations alike fear that Lukashenko will be willing to limit his country’s sovereignty through greater integration with Russia in an effort to stay in power with Putin’s help. At home, the dictator is facing unprecedented mass demonstrations, whose participants are convinced of falsifying Lukashenko’s victory in the presidential election and demanding his departure and a new election.
“During the talks, it is planned to discuss key issues for the further development of Russian-Belarusian strategic partnership and alliance relations. Special attention will be paid to the implementation of large joint projects in the trade, economic, energy, cultural and humanitarian fields, as well as to the prospects for further progress of integration processes in the federal state, “Russian state agency TASS quoted Peskov in a press release.
Putin has long sought closer ties with Belarus within the union. Lukashenko has so far refused, accusing Moscow of wanting to swallow Belarus. However, his current position is weakened precisely because of protests against the results of the August 9 presidential election.
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