Russian Invasion

 

Alexander Lukashenko and Vladimir Putin. Alexander Demianchuk / AP 

 

Russian Invasion|Russian Reactions

The outcome of the meeting with Putin: Wagner wants to go west  

 

“There is no counteroffensive.” That is what Belarusian President Aleksandr Lukashenko is said to have said about Ukraine in connection with today's meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin in St. Petersburg.  

 

According to Russian state media, Putin is said to have replied: 

 

- It exists, but it has failed. Lukashenko is also said to have said that the Wagner soldiers who train the Belarusian army want to enter the NATO country of Poland. 

 

- The Wagner boys have started to push, they want to go west. "We'll take a trip to Warsaw or Rzeszów."  

- But of course I keep them in central Belarus, as we agreed, continued Lukashenko.  

 

Wagner's presence in Belarus has created reactions in the West and Poland that have strengthened the border.  

 

 

Russian President Vladimir Putin and Belarusian leader Aleksandr Lukashenko, April 5. Pavel Byrkin / AP  

 

Putin and Lukashenko meet on "strategic partnership"  

 

Russian President Vladimir Putin and Belarusian dictator Aleksandr Lukashenko will meet in St. Petersburg on Sunday, writes Reuters.  

 

The meeting is being held after the Kremlin warned the West that any kind of "aggression" against Belarus is considered an attack against Russia. The statement was made after Poland decided to move military forces closer to the border, a response to the Wagner group's entry into Belarus.  

 

During today's meeting, Putin and Lukashenko will discuss the "strategic partnership and alliance" between the countries, according to Russia.