Vladimir Putin today received Belarusian leader Alexander Lukashenko at a monastery in Valaam, Russia, as part of a two-day official visit, where he prayed for divine intervention “soon” in his war against Ukraine.
Video shows the dictators taking part in a prayer “for granting victory to the Russian army” amid Putin’s ongoing invasion of Ukraine.
The trip concludes a two-day “communication” that began on Sunday with negotiations in Strelna. It is the first time they have met since the Wagner Group mutiny in June.
Belarus helped broker the deal that provided safe passage for Yevgeny Prigozhin’s private military company after soldiers appeared to turn to march on Moscow.
Since then, Belarusian soldiers have trained with Wagner Group troops on the Polish border.
Lukashenko nervously told Putin yesterday that mercenaries were “itching” to march on Poland. “They ask to go to the West,” he said, telling Putin that they asked to “go on an excursion to Warsaw and Rzeszow.”
Russian President Vladimir Putin and his Belarusian counterpart Alexander Lukashenko visit Valaam Monastery on Valaam Island in the northern part of Lake Ladoga on July 24, 2023
Russian President Vladimir Putin and his Belarusian counterpart Alexander Lukashenko visit the Valaam Monastery in the Republic of Karelia, Russia, July 24, 2023
Russian President Vladimir Putin (second from left) visits the Valaam Monastery in the Republic of Karelia, Russia, July 24, 2023
Lukashenko told Putin yesterday: “I will keep them in central Belarus, as we agreed. We control what happens. [But] they are in a bad mood.’
He also handed Putin a map showing, according to him, Polish plans to attack Belarus.
Poland recently sent 1,000 troops to Belarus to bolster security.
Warsaw has made significant efforts in recent years to strengthen its military and is now in the top 20 world power according to the GFP index.
In June, USA approved $15 billion in Patriot and missile defense upgrades for Poland.
Late last year, Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki urged the country to build an army “so strong that it is better not to have to fight” and to deter the enemy with “sheer strength”.
He announced that more than PLN 100 billion (£19.396 billion) would be allocated to the modernization of the military in 2023 alone.
By comparison, Britain has earmarked an extra £5 billion in this year’s spring budget for defense spending over the next two years.
The annual defense budget will reach £51.7bn by 2024/5.
Poland notes that Belarusian troops are also training on the Polish border – now with Wagner troops.
It sees this as a threat.
Russia has also claimed that Poland is attempting aggressive moves to the east as it expands its military.
On Friday, Putin said: “Polish leaders are probably trying to build a coalition under the umbrella of NATO and directly join the conflict in Ukraine, and then tear off a bigger piece for themselves, restoring what they believe to be historic territory – present-day western Ukraine.”
Poland used to rule much of central and eastern Europe as part of a wider commonwealth that included Lithuania and included parts of modern-day Ukraine.
It lost much of its territory during a period of crisis in the 18th century and was partitioned by Russia in 1772, 1792 and 1795, irretrievably worsening relations.
While many Poles may regret the new borders imposed by Russia after World War II, there is no serious reason for Poles to “reconquer” former territories, such as Lviv.
The Polish government has committed to establishing a nearby sapper to reinforce NATO’s eastern flank and secure the Suwałki Gorge.
The Gap — a space between Poland and Lithuania that separates Belarus from Russia’s Kaliningrad exclave — is considered a point of vulnerability because, if overwhelmed, it could cut the Baltic states off from their Western allies.
Russian President Vladimir Putin, right, and Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko, left, attend a rally in St. Petersburg, Russia, Sunday, July 23, 2023
The leader of the Wagner group, Yevgeny Prigozhin, clashed with the National Armed Forces of Russia during the war, sending his private mercenaries to die at the front.
The mutiny in late June, turning toward Moscow, made rapid progress, seizing Rostov and moving across to Russian regions.
Six Russian army helicopters and an aircraft were reportedly shot down in the clashes.
But the mutiny failed in its objectives, as Prigozhin negotiated peace through Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko before reaching Moscow.
All charges against the leader of the Wagner group were eventually dropped so that he could move to Belarus.
Putin’s church appearance came as he sent his defense minister to North Korea today in an effort to secure weapons for his war against Ukraine.
Sergei Shoigu leads a delegation to the repressive state, supposedly to celebrate the 70th anniversary of its founding.
The fact that Shoigu is traveling can be seen as an indication that Putin has ruled out yet another foreign visit amid ongoing speculation about his health.
He recently withdrew from a visit to South Africa, where he could have been arrested on child trafficking charges following the issuance of a warrant by the International Criminal Court.
The Suwałki Gorge between Poland and Lithuania separates Belarus from Kaliningrad
Russia’s defense ministry said the visit “will help strengthen Russian-North Korean military ties.”
It will also serve to “become an important stage in the development of cooperation between the two countries.”
Russia and North Korea share a border.
Moscow hopes that Kim Jong-un will provide military equipment for Putin’s troops in Ukraine.