On his second foreign trip since the start of his fifth term, Russian President Vladimir Putin visited his Belarusian counterpart and close ally Alexander Lukashenko in Minsk.
The two authoritarian rulers discussed security issues in the Belarusian capital Minsk on Thursday evening, state media in both countries reported.
A subsequent meeting on Friday focused on economic cooperation between the neighboring countries.
Putin, 71, listed his army’s exercises with tactical nuclear weapons among the topics discussed, and said Belarusian soldiers would also take part in a second phase of maneuvers.
Russia has stationed tactical nuclear warheads with delivery systems in Belarus in an apparent attempt to deter Western countries from providing more military support to Ukraine.
Russia launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, with its forces also attacking from Belarus with Lukashenko’s support.
According to the Belarusian agency BELTA, 69-year-old Lukashenko said Minsk and Moscow were sticking to their path of deeper integration.
Lukashenko has become increasingly dependent on Putin as he was only able to retain power with Russian help following rigging in the 2020 presidential election and mass protests.
Putin began his fifth term in office in early May and visited China on his first foreign trip. After Belarus, he is expected to visit the Central Asian republic of Uzbekistan on Sunday and Monday.
