Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko arrived in St. Petersburg for a crucial meeting with his Russian counterpart, President Vladimir Putin, with a map in hand.
The map reportedly depicted what Lukashenko described as the "deployment of Polish armed forces on the borders of the Union State," as reported by BelTA news agency.
During the meeting, Lukashenko expressed his concerns about Poland's alleged utilization of a substantial number of hired fighters and strategic reserves in the region. He voiced apprehensions regarding the potential division of Western Ukraine and the transfer of Ukrainian territory to Poland, asserting that such actions were unacceptable.
"We cannot permit the division and fragmentation of Ukraine. If it becomes necessary to assist the people of western Ukraine, we will undoubtedly support them. However, Poland's policy of recklessly deploying unprepared soldiers and mercenaries will lead to disastrous consequences," Lukashenko stated firmly.
According to Lukashenko's statements, one of the Polish brigades is currently positioned approximately 40 kilometers from Brest, while another is about 100 kilometers from Grodno, adding to the tensions in the region.
The meeting between Lukashenko and Putin revolved around "Security issues of the Union State," reflecting the significance of the discussions given the escalating situation in Ukraine and the involvement of neighboring countries.
During the meeting, Lukashenko reportedly raised concerns about the Wagner mercenaries present in Belarus, who had allegedly requested his support in attacking Poland.
"The Wagner guys have started to stress - "Allow us to go to the west." I said, "Why do you need it, to go to the West?" We're silently watching what is going on. "Well, we'll go for a sightseeing tour to Warsaw and Rzeszow," Lukashenko relayed the Wagner troops' wishes.
The talks in St. Petersburg also encompassed statements made by President Putin, who on July 21, accused Poland of planning to invade Ukraine by forming a military alliance with Lithuania and Ukraine. Putin pointedly mentioned that certain regions of Poland had been "gifted" to the country by Joseph Stalin in the past.
Regarding Belarus, President Putin emphasized that any aggression against Belarus would be seen as an attack on Russia itself.
"As for Belarus, it is a Union state, aggression against Belarus means aggression against Russia. We will respond with all the means at our disposal. Let me say one thing - this is a very dangerous game, and the authors of such a plan should think about its consequences," the Russian leader added.
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