Russian President Vladimir Putin on Thursday praised the relationship between Russia and Belarus, two neighbours whose ties have grown ever closer since the outbreak of the war in Ukraine.
Putin made the comments at a press conference in Moscow with the longtime ruler of Belarus, Alexander Lukashenko.
Lukashenko, an authoritarian leader who has cracked down on all political opposition, allowed Belarusian territory to be used as a base from which Russian troops attacked Ukraine over three years ago.
“A joint regional troop group, modern Russian defence
systems, and tactical nuclear weapons have been deployed on
Belarusian territory,” Putin said, according to state news agency TASS.
A treaty on joint security had come into force, Putin said on Thursday, adding that both countries were jointly monitoring the western border in view of the turbulent situation in Europe.
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