Against the background of the escalation of the war in Ukraine and the new facts, such as those shaped by the election of Donald Trump, Russia and Belarus decide to further strengthen their bilateral military relations by signing a defence agreement.

In particular, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov announced today that Russia and Belarus will sign an agreement on mutual security guarantees, according to the state news agency RIA.

Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko is expected to host Russian President Vladimir Putin today in Minsk for a summit to mark the 25th anniversary of the Union State, an open-border alliance between the two former Soviet republics and neighbours.

Putin approved changes last month extending Moscow’s nuclear umbrella to cover Belarus, which he considers a key ally.

In this context, there is a provision for a nuclear strike by Russia on any state that targets it or states allied to it, even with long-range conventional weapons.

On top of that, Russian President Vladimir Putin will take stock of the year on December 19, answering questions from journalists, including Westerners, and citizens alike, nearly three years after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and at a time when the Russian economy is showing signs of fatigue.

Also read: Ukraine | Clashes 30 km deep inside Russian territory – Battle tank mobilization in Belarus