Belarus Leader Demands Security Guarantees from Russia.

Belarus President Alexander Lukashenko has asked Russia's defence minister for guarantees that Moscow will defend his country if it is attacked. Lukashenko said he had previously discussed the matter with Russian President Vladimir Putin, who agreed that such security guarantees were necessary and needed to be formalised. Belarus has offered assistance to Moscow during its military campaign in Ukraine, but Lukashenko has consistently denied any intention to join a new attack on Ukraine.