Lukashenko seeks Russian security assurances for Belarus.

Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko has requested "full security guarantees" from Russia, stating that Moscow would protect Belarus as its own territory in the event of an attack. Lukashenko made the request following a meeting with Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu in Minsk. The Belarusian leader also thanked Moscow for keeping thousands of Russian troops on Belarusian territory. Ukraine criticized Lukashenko's request, calling it "weird desires." Lukashenko argued that Western countries were "trampling on" security guarantees stipulated by the Budapest Memorandum.