Belarus will stick with Russia but seek new partners

Significance

Putin said more would follow by the end of summer or year-end, as a warning to the West against inflicting “strategic defeat” on Russia through its support for Ukraine. Accepting Russian nuclear weapons further limits Belarusian foreign policy, as the Lukashenka regime becomes tied even more firmly into Russian decision-making.

Impacts

• Belarus' sovereignty is being seriously undermined, with Russian security forces stationed to guard the nuclear weapons indefinitely.
• Belarusian territory has already been used for attacks on Ukraine, military supply and the hospitalisation of wounded soldiers.
• Slovenia beat Belarus to a UN Security Council two-year seat on June 6, apparently because of Minsk’s support for Moscow against Kyiv.