Fears Belarus could be pulled into Ukraine war as Putin meets Lukashenko

Kremlin rails against ‘stupid and unfounded fabrications’ that Moscow wants Minsk to join the Ukraine war

Russian president Vladimir Putin, left, and Belarusian president Alexander Lukashenko (Reuters)

Russia’s president Vladimir Putin is visiting Belarus along with his defence and foreign ministers, as fears grow in Kyiv that Moscow wants to push its closest ally into a new ground offensive in Ukraine.

Sitting alongside Belarus president Alexander Lukashenko before their talks in Minsk, Mr Putin is said to have emphasised the close military-technical ties between the allies.

Mr Putin was allowed to use Belarus as the launchpad for his offensive against Kyiv when the invasion of Ukraine began in February – although Lukashenko has repeatedly said his nation, which relies heavily on Moscow for support, will not enter the war given how unpopular such a move could prove in his country.