Putin and Lukashenko Discuss Ukrainian Stalled Counteroffensive and about Wagner

 

Image Credit: Google

Putin and Lukashenko Discuss Ukraine's Stalled Counteroffensive and Wagner Group's Presence in Belarus

 

Russian President Vladimir Putin and Belarusian leader Alexander Lukashenko held talks in St. Petersburg, where they discussed the situation in Ukraine.

Putin stated, "There is no counteroffensive," referring to Ukraine's attempt to reclaim captured territory from Russia.

Lukashenko, in a jocular tone, mentioned that the Wagner Group fighters, now training Belarusian troops, expressed a desire to push into NATO member Poland, to which Putin smiled, and Lukashenko clarified that they would remain in central Belarus as agreed.

Wagner Group and Russian Cover to Belarus against Poland

Belarus had previously helped end a revolt by Wagner Group mercenaries, and now hosts the fighters on its territory after Lukashenko brokered a deal with Wagner leader Yevgeny Prigozhin, preventing a march on Moscow.

In response to Wagner fighters training Belarusian special forces near the Polish border, Poland moved additional troops to the area.

Putin warned Poland that any aggression against Belarus would be seen as an attack on Russia, and Moscow would respond with all available means to defend Minsk.

Recently, Putin's remarks about western Poland being a "gift" from Stalin at the end of World War II caused tension, leading to the summoning of the Russian ambassador by Warsaw.

The conflict in Ukraine has been ongoing for nearly 17 months, with Ukraine's counteroffensive showing limited progress against entrenched Russian forces holding more than a sixth of its territory.