Putin meets with Lukashenko before anniversary of Russia's invasion of Ukraine

Russian media reports.  

According to Russian presidential spokesman Dmitry Peskov, the meeting will take place on February 16 at Vladimir Putin's residence in Novo-Ogaryovo, near Moscow.

"As for the meeting preparations between the two presidents - Putin and Lukashenko - yes, I can assure you that such a meeting is being prepared. It will be a thorough conversation," Peskov said.

Lukashenko, who last met with Putin on December 27, 2022, in St. Petersburg, also announced the meeting.

"We will discuss security and defense issues. But the main thing is that I have already said that we are preparing a meeting of the Supreme State Council in April or May to discuss economic, military and political issues, and if we come to the issue of our joint grouping in Belarus, of course, we will discuss this as well," Lukashenko said.

• On February 16, Alexander Lukashenko said that he would enter the war against Ukraine only in case of aggression against his country. 

• Lukashenko also said that it was the Ukrainian government's fault for waging war with Russia.