Ukraine to boost Belarus border defences as Putin meets Lukashenko - BBC

Ukraine is tightening up the defence of its borderline with Belarus implicit fears that Russia whitethorn beryllium preparing a caller attack, a authorities authoritative has said.

Deputy Interior Minister Yevhen Yenin told the BBC that Ukraine volition beryllium bolstering the Belarusian borderline with equipped forces and ammunition.

It comes arsenic Russia's Vladimir Putin travelled to Minsk to conscionable Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko.

Belarus shares a borderline with Russia arsenic good arsenic Ukraine.

Ahead of President Putin's sojourn Russia's defence ministry announced that its troops stationed successful Belarus would behaviour associated subject exercises with Belarus.

Reacting to this and the sojourn Mr Yenin confirmed: "We are gathering up our defence lines each crossed the borderline with Russia and with Belarus".

While Belarus has not go progressive successful the warfare directly, it did let Russian troops to usage its territory to motorboat the penetration successful February.

Minsk is coming nether expanding unit from Moscow to measurement up its enactment successful the alleged "special subject occupation".

But Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov dismissed the reports "as wholly stupid, groundless fabrications."

President Putin flew to Minsk for talks with President Lukashenko - the archetypal clip successful three-and-a-half years the brace person met successful Belarus.

The gathering has been described arsenic a "working visit" and lasted for much than 2 hours.

It is not yet known what was said during the meeting, but speaking astatine a associated property league President Putin said Russia did not privation to "absorb" anyone.

He besides said that unspecified "enemies" wanted to halt Russia's integration with Belarus.

Speaking aboriginal connected Monday, US State Department spokesperson Ned Price said Putin's connection was the "height of irony" fixed helium was presently seeking to sorb Ukraine.

Something uncommon happened today: Vladimir Putin got connected a level and flew to Minsk. Now, President Putin and President Alexander Lukashenko conscionable a batch - but successful Russia.

For the archetypal clip successful three-and-a-half years, present was President Putin successful Belarus. So wherefore did helium go…and wherefore now?

There were fewer clues astatine the associated property league arsenic the 2 leaders spoke a batch astir economical relations, trade, but besides security.

President Putin indicated that immoderate Belarusian subject craft person been re-equipped to perchance transportation atomic missiles and that Russia is helping to bid their crews.

In return, President Lukashenko thanked him for providing Belarus with an S-400 aerial defence strategy and Iskander ballistic rocket system.

The connection "Ukraine" was hardly mentioned - successful public.

But, the sojourn has fuelled speculation that the Kremlin person whitethorn beryllium trying to unit the person of Belarus into joining a imaginable caller crushed violative successful Ukraine.

This whitethorn so beryllium conscionable a rumour. Or a ploy by Moscow to marque Ukraine expect a Belarusian violative and truthful necktie up Ukrainian soldiers successful the north.

But, determination are reportedly respective 1000 Russian soldiers already successful Belarus and determination person been associated exercises.

Until present Alexander Lukashenko has been reluctant to perpetrate his ain troops to warring successful Ukraine.

All eyes are connected Minsk to spot if that remains the case.