Putin to Meet Belarus Leader, Ally, Two Days After Summit with Kim Jong-un

President Lukashenko Scheduled to Meet in Russia on the 15th

Russian President Vladimir Putin is scheduled to meet with the Belarusian leader, an ally, just two days after the North Korea-Russia summit, Interfax and TASS news agencies reported on the 14th (local time).

According to reports citing Belarusian state news agency BelTA, Belarusian President Aleksandr Lukashenko is set to visit Russia on the 15th to meet with President Putin.

The two leaders are expected to discuss international agendas, regional issues, and cooperation plans in sectors such as industry and agriculture during the meeting.

Earlier, on the 13th, President Putin held a summit with Chairman Kim Jong-un at the Vostochny Cosmodrome in Amur Oblast, in Russia's Far East.

In this meeting, held amid Western concerns that North Korea, which opened its borders for the first time in 3 years and 7 months since the COVID-19 pandemic, and Russia, which continues its special military operation in Ukraine, might strengthen military cooperation, President Putin expressed his intention to assist North Korea in advancing cutting-edge technologies such as satellites.

Chairman Kim also stated, "Russia has embarked on a sacred fight to defend sovereignty and security against hegemonic forces," showing full support for Russia in its confrontation with the West.

Russian President Vladimir Putin (left) and Belarusian President Aleksandr Lukashenko (center) are lighting candles at the Valaam Monastery on Lake Ladoga in the Republic of Karelia, Russian Federation, on July 24 (local time).
[Photo by AP]

Belarus, a former Soviet state, is also one of the countries supporting Russia in the Ukraine crisis, maintaining close cooperation in political, economic, and military fields, similar to North Korea.

In response to Western hostile policies against itself, Russia has been deploying tactical nuclear weapons in Belarus since June and announced that it will complete the transfer of nuclear weapons by the end of this year.

Additionally, a significant number of mercenaries from the Russian private military company Wagner Group, who initiated but then halted an armed rebellion within Russia at the end of June, are reportedly still remaining in Belarus.

For these reasons, NATO member countries bordering Belarus, such as Poland, Lithuania, and Latvia, have significantly strengthened their border security.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.