Vladimir Putin and Alexander Lukashenko will meet today for discussions about the war in Ukraine

Russian President Vladimir Putin and Belarusian President Aleksandr Lukashenko will meet on Friday, according to official announcements, for discussions focused on the war in Ukraine. This unannounced meeting comes amid rising tensions between Belarus and Ukraine, with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky accusing Putin of trying to persuade Lukashenko to intensify support for Russia.

Lukashenko recently had a meeting with representatives of Zelensky, warning them that Belarus does not want war and describing Ukraine as a "bargaining chip" in a broader conflict. Zelensky urged Lukashenko to deactivate the relay stations used for guiding Russian drones, threatening that Ukraine will act alone if this does not happen.

Additionally, the Belarusian Minister of Defense stated that attempts to draw Belarus into the war come from the West, not from Russia. Ukraine is also concerned about the energy cooperation between Russia and Belarus, especially in the context of the fuel crisis in Russia.