Ukraine to boost Belarus border defences as Putin meets Lukashenko

Image source, EPAImage caption, Vladimir Putin and Alexander Lukashenko shake hands before their meeting at the Palace of Independence in MinskBy Thomas MackintoshBBC News, London

Ukraine is tightening up the defence of its border with Belarus over fears that Russia may be preparing a fresh attack, a government official has said.

Deputy Interior Minister Yevhen Yenin told the BBC Ukraine would be bolstering the Belarusian border with armed forces and ammunition.

It comes as Russia's Vladimir Putin travelled to Minsk to meet Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko.

Belarus shares a border with Russia as well as Ukraine.

Ahead of President Putin's visit, Russia's defence ministry announced that its troops stationed in Belarus would conduct joint military exercises with Belarus.

Reacting to this and the visit Mr Yenin confirmed: "We are building up our defence lines all across the border with Russia and with Belarus."

While Belarus has not become involved in the war directly, it did allow Russian troops to use its territory to launch the invasion in February.

Image source, Getty ImagesImage caption, Russia and Belarus held joint military drills near the Ukrainian border in February – just days before Russia's full-scale invasion

Minsk is coming under increasing pressure from Moscow to step up its support in the so-called "special military operation".

But Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov dismissed the reports "as totally stupid, groundless fabrications".

President Putin flew to Minsk for talks with President Lukashenko – the first time in three-and-a-half years the pair have met in Belarus.

The meeting has been described as a "working visit" and lasted for more than two hours.

It is not yet known what was said during the meeting, but speaking at a joint press conference President Putin said Russia did not want to "absorb" anyone.

He also said that unspecified "enemies" wanted to stop Russia's integration with Belarus.

Speaking later on Monday, US state department spokesperson Ned Price said Putin's statement was the "height of irony" given he was currently seeking to absorb Ukraine.

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Something rare happened today: Vladimir Putin got on a plane and flew to Minsk. Now, President Putin and President Alexander Lukashenko meet a lot – but in Russia.

For the first time in three-and-a-half years, here was President Putin in Belarus. So why did he go… and why now?

There were few clues at the joint press conference as the two leaders spoke a lot about economic relations, trade, but also security.

President Putin indicated that some Belarusian military aircraft have been re-equipped to potentially carry nuclear missiles and that Russia is helping to train their crews.

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

The word "Ukraine" was hardly mentioned – in public.

But the visit has fuelled speculation that the Kremlin leader may be trying to pressure the leader of Belarus into joining a possible new ground offensive in Ukraine.

This may indeed be just a rumour. Or a ploy by Moscow to make Ukraine expect a Belarusian offensive and so tie up Ukrainian soldiers in the north.

But, there are reportedly several thousand Russian soldiers already in Belarus and there have been joint exercises.

Until now Alexander Lukashenko has been reluctant to commit his own troops to fighting in Ukraine.

All eyes are on Minsk to see if that remains the case.