Russia’s President Vladimir Putin (L) and Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko shake fingers as they pose for {a photograph} throughout a ceremony within the Kremlin, Moscow, Russia on June 24, 2020. (Alexei Nikolsky/Russian Presidential Press and Info Workplace/TASS/Getty Photos)
Russian President Vladimir Putin stated he mentioned Belarus’ curiosity in getting access to the Baltic Sea in a telephone name together with his Belarusian counterpart Alexander Lukashenko.
“Simply at this time we talked with the President of Belarus on this matter. Our Belarusian mates are taken with being current within the Baltic, taken with growing their very own port amenities. You already know that I additionally assist it,” Putin stated throughout a ceremony for a brand new Russian ferry, which he attended just about.
Belarus is a landlocked nation, so it’s unclear what sensible steps Putin and Russia may take to offer entry to the Baltic Sea. Nonetheless, Russia has customs union with Belarus and shares an extended frequent border.
NATO’s Baltic members — Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania — are amongst these most involved about Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
This week, a Ukrainian authorities official instructed CNN that Ukrainian intelligence signifies Belarusian “readiness to perhaps take part straight” within the invasion.
To this point, nonetheless, US officers haven’t seen Belarusian troops “being readied to maneuver into Ukraine” or “that they’re shifting or are in Ukraine,” a senior US protection official stated Monday, including that the forces inside Ukraine are Russian.
The White Home on Wednesday detailed a brand new slate of financial measures levied towards Russia and Belarus, condemning Belarus for “enabling Putin’s invasion of Ukraine.”
“I’ve requested you to offer all potential help. This is applicable to varied locations, factors, constructions the place our Belarusian mates may fulfill these choices. I will not go into particulars now, you realize about them,” Putin additionally stated throughout his remarks. “They’re essential not just for Belarus, but in addition for us as a result of that is the event of our infrastructure, a rise in cargo transportation on our coast, for our nation. Accordingly, the advantages of Belarus will prolong to the Russian financial system. We’re additionally on this, so I ask you to assist all these initiatives.”
A province of Russia, Kaliningrad, is located between Poland and Lithuania alongside the Baltic Coastline.