Putin declares Ukraine's counteroffensive a failure during Lukashenko meeting

Russian President Vladimir Putin hosted Belarusian leader Alexander Lukashenko for talks in St. Petersburg, where they discussed Ukraine's counteroffensive. Putin claimed that the counteroffensive had failed, while Lukashenko jokingly mentioned that Russian mercenaries were eager to push into NATO member Poland. The Belarusian defense ministry confirmed that Wagner fighters were training Belarusian special forces near the Polish border, prompting Poland to deploy additional troops. Putin warned Poland against aggression towards Belarus, stating that it would be considered an attack on Russia. The meeting between Putin and Lukashenko focused on security and other issues, highlighting their close alliance in the ongoing conflict in Ukraine.