In this pool photograph distributed by the Russian state agency Sputnik Russia’s President Vladimir Putin (R) talks to Belarus’ President Alexander Lukashenko during the Supreme Eurasian Economic Council of the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) at the Palace of Independence in Astana on May 29, 2026. The Russian president is on a state visit to Kazakhstan. (Photo by Alexander KAZAKOV / POOL / AFP via Getty Images)
POOL/AFP via Getty Images
Belarusian President Aliaksandr Lukashenka traveled to northwestern Russia on June 26 to meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin. During the gathering at Putin’s Valdai residence, they discussed trade and economic relations between Belarus and the Russian Federation. Reuters reported that Lukashenka and Putin also addressed issues of regional security. Their talks, according to Bloomberg, lasted two days.
On the surface, such a meeting appears to be routine. The deliberations between Lukashenka and Putin are well known, where the two leaders regularly discuss economic and trade relations, security cooperation, and energy security. Meetings between Belarusian and Russian officials have also increased following the start of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.
But the timing of the discussions last month is important. According to the Center for Strategic and International Studies, the Russian military has suffered 1.4 million casualties since the start of Russia’s military incursion into Ukraine in February 2022. Additionally, the Atlantic Council has reported that the Russian Federation has lost tens of billions of dollars due to economic sanctions imposed on Russia by the international community to punish the Russian Federation for its war. The Russians have also lost tens of billions of dollars’ worth of defense equipment and vehicles. Despite these losses, Putin has opted to continue the war in Ukraine, although he has requested military equipment and manpower from his allies to be used in the invasion. For example, the North Korean government sent at least 11,000 soldiers to assist Russia in the war in Ukraine. Meanwhile, Iran has sold missiles and drones to Russia. Finally, Putin has relied heavily on his ally Lukashenka during the war. According to a Wall Street Journal report, Putin requested in June that Belarus provide greater assistance to Russia for the war in Ukraine (although the Russian government denies this claim).
When Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine began in February 2022, the Belarusian government permitted the Russians to fire missiles from Belarusian territory into Ukraine. During the initial stages of the war, the Russian Federation also transported Russian soldiers and military equipment by railway from Russia into Belarus, thus using Belarus as a launchpad into Ukraine. Some Russian troops even stayed in Belarusian barracks.
Aside from Belarus allowing Russian soldiers and equipment to be transported through Belarusian territory for Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, the Russians also worked to strengthen Belarusian national security. For example, the Russians and Belarusians have conducted military training exercises that simulated air defense and ground combat scenarios. Additionally, according to Lukashenka, Russia has provided his country with military equipment and weapons. In November 2025, Lukashenka announced that Russia had deployed intermediate-range ballistic missiles, known as Oreshniks, to Belarus.
Despite this collaboration between the Belarusian and Russian governments, Lukashenka has refrained from sending Belarusian soldiers into Ukraine. When the full-scale invasion began in February 2022, dozens of Belarusian military officers resigned in protest against Lukashenka’s decision to aid Russia in the war. Some Belarusian soldiers even left the Belarusian military to join volunteer battalions fighting in Ukraine.
Aside from the protests of some Belarusian military officers and soldiers, many Belarusian citizens also oppose Belarusian involvement in Russia’s full-scale invasion. According to a 2025 Chatham House poll, 40% of Belarusians “do not support Russia’s military action in Ukraine.” In other words, Russia’s war in Ukraine is unpopular among a large group of Belarusian citizens, a reality that could threaten Lukashenka’s grip on power if he were to get his country more involved.
The Belarusian president is also aware that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has begun meeting with members of Belarusian democratic forces (the Belarusian opposition). For example, Zelenskyy met with Belarusian opposition leader Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya in January and May, during which they discussed relations between Belarus and Ukraine. They both warned against escalation between Belarus and Ukraine, and they hoped that relations could be restored.
These meetings between Zelenskyy and Tsikhanouskaya may have further discouraged Lukashenka from sending Belarusian troops into Ukraine. Joining the Russian invasion would be viewed poorly by Belarusian citizens, and it would strengthen the position of Belarusian democratic forces hoping to depose Lukashenka. The Belarusian president appears unwilling to take this risk.
But as Lukashenka hopes to preserve his power and role in Belarus, Russia is reported to have continued pressuring Belarus to join the fight in Ukraine. The meeting between Lukashenka and Putin in June was unannounced, and Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov stated that no press statements would be issued following the session between the leaders of Belarus and Russia.
Now, as Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine continues, it is possible that Putin may increase his frequency of discussions with Lukashenka. What will come of these security-related meetings, however, remains to be seen.
National security experts, policymakers, and observers of the Russia-Ukraine War will be curious to see how Lukashenka’s relationship with Putin unfolds later this year. At a time when the Russian Federation is facing economic challenges and as the Russian Federation continues to lose significant casualties, Putin will likely continue to meet with his allies, including Lukashenka, as Russia looks to secure greater support for the war in Ukraine.