Lukashenko & Putin meet for first time since Wagner revolt; discuss group's ambitions

Russian President Vlimir Putin met his Belarusian counterpart Alexander Lukashenko on Sunday, July 23, for first time since Belarus brokered a peace deal between Moscow and Russian mercenary group Wagner. According to Belarusian news outlet, BelTA News, meeting between two leers took place in St. Petersberg, where Putin hosted his longtime ally. As per reports, two leers not only discussed Wagner’s new ambitions but also remarked how Ukraine’s counteroffensive has “failed”. meeting commenced after hes of states arrived at famous Konstantinovsky Palace.

“ agenda of negotiations has been set. re are many issues to be discussed. Tritionally, this is a wide range of most important and basic topics for Belarus-Russia bilateral relations: security, international agenda, economic cooperation, Union State programs, joint effort to counter illegitimate pressure and much more,” Lukashenko said in press service. Meanwhile, in meeting, Putin proclaimed that Ukraine’s counteroffensive has “failed”. “re is no counteroffensive,” BelTA quoted Lukashenko. “It exists, but it has failed,” Putin replied. Infamously known as last dictator of Europe, Lukashenko lauded success of Russian army. 

"We can estimate how many soldiers of Armed Forces of Ukraine died considering number of destroyed hardware. I know this because I served as an officer in armoured army back in day,” Belarusian leer remarked. Russian President me it clear that plans to furr ties between Russia and Belarus are being implemented. He insisted that two nations are in a “better place than expected”.

Lukashenko sheds light on Wagner’s plans

According to BelTA news, Belarusian leer also conveyed ambitions of Wagner to Russian President. Lukashenko told his Russian counterpart that Wagner is eager “to see sights of” Warsaw and Rezesow. "Maybe I shouldn't say it but I will still do. PMC Wagner is insisting on going westward. y ask to go westward: ‘Please let us do it!' I say: ‘Why do you want to go westward?' Well, and on quiet... After all, we control what is happening. ‘Well, we will go see sights of Warsaw and Rzeszow," leer of Eastern European nation asserted. 

"y hold a grudge against Rzeszow. When y fought at Artyomovsk, y knew where military hardware came from. y have this grudge inside m against Rzeszow. Of course, I keep m in centre of Belarus, as agreed. I would not like to redeploy m re. Because y're angry. We must give m credit, y know what is happening around Union State," he ded. Last month, Russian private mercenary group organised a rebellion in Russia and attacked defence hequarters of Russian cities. After a brief turmoil, it was Belarus which brokered deal between two warring nations. As a part of deal, militants from Wagner group went to Belarus and are reportedly providing military training to country’s army.