Vladimir Putin held talks with Alexander Lukashenko in Sochi

Russian President Vladimir Putin discussed with his Belarusian counterpart Alexander Lukashenko the situation in Ukraine and relations with the DPRK. Negotiations between the leaders of the two countries took place in Sochi on September 15.

During the meeting, the presidents traditionally discussed the situation in Ukraine. Putin noted that the units of the Russian Armed Forces in the special operation zone are 85-90% equipped with modern weapons and equipment.

The Belarusian leader said that the West “sleeps and sees” how to send its regular troops to Ukrainian territory. The Russian President noted that the Russian Federation is recording foreign mercenaries and instructors in the combat zone.

“In Poland they have already been formed at the border. Military units have been formed, ready to enter Ukraine. You need to look into your own eye and look for some log there, and not blame others,” Lukashenko added.

300,000 contract soldiers entered service in the Armed Forces (AF) of the Russian Federation. “This morning it was reported that 300,000 contracts were signed by people who, I want to emphasize, are ready to sacrifice their lives in the interests of their homeland, defending the interests of Russia,” said the Russian President.

On September 12, Putin said that about 270,000 people in Russia had voluntarily signed contracts for military service over the past six months. Today he called this data outdated. “Our men who enter into these contracts are guided by the highest patriotic considerations,” Putin emphasized.

The Russian leader commented on reports about the alleged sending of volunteers from the DPRK to the special operation zone – he called it “nonsense” and clarified that Russia does not need to send someone from the outside to the North Military District.

Putin also promised to inform Lukashenko about the negotiations with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, which took place on September 13 at the Vostochny cosmodrome. Lukashenko, in turn, suggested thinking about “cooperation for three” between the Russian Federation and Belarus with the North Korean Republic.

“Korea is our neighbor, and one way or another we must build good neighborly relations with our neighbors. Yes, there are certain features associated with the Korean peninsula, we are discussing this, discussing it openly,” Putin noted and added that Moscow will look for opportunities to develop Russian-North Korean relations.

The previous meeting of the presidents took place on July 23 in Strelna. They discussed the Wagner PMC, the external threat “along the perimeter” of the countries and the development of the Union State. At the end of August, the leaders held telephone conversations. As the Russian leader’s press secretary Dmitry Peskov noted, Putin and Lukashenko communicate regularly and “regularly compare notes.”