Vladimir Putin has nothing but bad options in Belarus
Russian President Vladimir Putin and Belarus President Alyaksandr Lukashenka pictured during a 2019 meeting in Sochi. (Sergei Chirikov/Pool via REUTERS)
Alyaksandr Lukashenka’s call on January 10 for closer integration with Russia “without any obstacles whatsoever” is just one example of the beleaguered Belarusian leader’s frantic and increasingly desperate efforts to please Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Another example is Belarus acquiescing to Moscow’s long-standing demand that it export refined petroleum products via Russian ports-something Lukashenka had been resisting for years. Yet another was an agreement allowing Russian’s National Guard troops to operate in Belarus.