“Russia has no interest in absorbing anyone. This, quite simply, makes no sense,” Putin said at a press conference in Minsk together with his Belarusian counterpart, Alexander Lukashenko.
Russian President Vladimir Putin tonight assured that Russia does not intend to “absorb” Belarus, its closest ally, which is heavily dependent on Moscow for its gas and oil supplies.
“Russia has no interest in absorbing anyone. This, quite simply, makes no sense,” Putin said at a press conference in Minsk together with his Belarusian counterpart, Alexander Lukashenko.
The Russian president pointed to the two countries’ close ties as “strategic partners” and “effectively” resisting Western sanctions even though unspecified “enemies” wanted to stop Russia’s integration with Belarus. He added that in today’s “substantial” talks he had with Lukashenko, Moscow and Minsk agreed to strengthen their cooperation in all areas and especially in the field of defense. These are “joint measures to guarantee the security” of the two countries, the “mutual delivery of weapons” but also the joint construction of weapons systems, he continued.
Russia will also continue to train Belarusian pilots to fly the Belarusian Soviet-made aircraft capable of carrying nuclear bombs.
“We tested these aircraft in Russia and they are preparing them now,” Lukashenko said, stressing that “this is not a threat against anyone.” Belarusians “cannot protect the independence of Belarus on their own,” without Russia, he added. “And if anyone thinks they can divide us today, break us, they won’t succeed,” he said.
Although Russia used Belarusian territory to launch its attack against Ukraine, as of late February, the Belarusian army has not yet engaged in combat on Ukrainian soil. In mid-October, the two countries announced the formation of a joint military force with exclusively “defense” purposes, according to Minsk.
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