Does the Russian President Meet His Counterpart Because of His Sweet Talk?

Last week, Aliaksandr Lukashenka and Vladimir Putin met in Moscow on the sidelines of the CSTO summit.

And on 23 May they held another personal conversation, this time in Sochi.
“Circumstances require such a serious, in-depth conversation.

I mean everything connected with security issues in the region, the security of our countries, and everything connected with the economy,” the Russian president said.

According to Putin, Russia is withstanding the sanctions blow “quite decently.”

Lukashenka went even further, declaring:
“The economy in Russia and, in general, in our Union is not merely strengthening, but unexpectedly strengthening intensively.

Take inflation, take unemployment.

Unemployment is falling.”

Meanwhile, annual inflation in Belarus accelerated to 15.9 percent, and many enterprises, facing problems with components, are reducing production.

Lukashenka also expressed the view that Kyiv will still have to ask Moscow and Minsk to help preserve Ukraine’s territorial integrity, allegedly because Poland is ready to take the western part of the country.

UDF (https://udf.name/) asked experts what goals Lukashenka and Putin were pursuing with their statements and another personal meeting.
“Putin has no one to choose from”
Andrei Kazakevich, director of the Political Sphere Institute and Doctor of Political Science, noted in a comment to UDF (https://udf.name/) that the leaders of the two countries cannot fail to be concerned about the economic consequences of the war and Western sanctions.

Photo: dw.com
“Lukashenka wants to compensate for losses as much as possible through support from Russia, in particular by expanding his presence on the Russian market.

Among other things, the logistics issue must be resolved, for example with regard to the sale of potash fertilisers.

And, of course, allies in a military conflict need to exchange information and keep each other informed.

There are so many common issues that they force Putin and Lukashenka to meet regularly.

And this is not surprising: since the beginning of the war, Western leaders have also communicated regularly to discuss the situation in Ukraine,” Kazakevich said.

Why did Lukashenka and Putin make bravura statements to journalists about the state of the economy, even though it is obvious that the situation is the opposite?
“The heads of state continue to push their line: in recent months we have heard only that sanctions ‘open up new opportunities’ and that it is possible to occupy the niches left by Western companies that have exited the market.

On their part, there is a desire to calm at least part of the population,” Kazakevich believes.

Is Lukashenka’s role really so important for Putin that he needs to remain in constant contact with him?

One gets the impression that Lukashenka is acting almost as the Russian president’s psychotherapist, uttering sweet words for his ears.
“These statements are a public performance.

What actually happens in their conversations behind closed doors is difficult to say.

But it must be kept in mind that Putin has no one to choose from.

Belarus is the only independent state recognised by everyone that is Russia’s ally, including in the ongoing war, by providing territory and military infrastructure.

Therefore, one has to communicate with the only ally and keep him in one’s orbit,” Kazakevich noted.

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