Lukashenko visits Russian troops stationed in Belarus

[January 06, 2023]  (Reuters) - Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko visited a military base where Russian troops are stationed, the defence ministry said on Friday.  

Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko greets participants during the summit of leaders of the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) in Astana, Kazakhstan October 14, 2022. REUTERS/Turar Kazangapov

During the meeting, Lukashenko and an unnamed representative from the Russian army discussed the two countries' joint military drills, it said.

"At this stage, units of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation are ready to carry out tasks as intended," the representative said.

Belarus, which is closely allied with Moscow, said on Thursday that it will receive more weapons and equipment from Russia as the two boost their military co-operation, fuelling fears it could be used as a staging post to attack Ukraine from the north.

Minsk has said it will not enter the war in Ukraine, but Russia used Belarus as a launch pad for its Feb. 24 invasion and continues to use Belarusian airspace for drone and missile strikes, Kyiv says.

(Writing by Caleb Davis; editing by Guy Faulconbridge)

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