Putin and Lukashenko meet in St Petersburg to discuss expanding alliance

Russian President Vladimir Putin and Belarus President Alexander Lukashenko shake hands during a meeting of the Union State Supreme Council in St Petersburg, Russia, on Monday (Dmitry Astakhov, Sputnik, Government Pool Photo via AP)

The leaders of Russia and Belarus met on Monday to discuss ways to further expand their close alliance that has seen the deployment of some of Russia’s nuclear weapons on the territory of its neighbour.

President Vladimir Putin emphasised that Russia and Belarus have developed a “strategic partnership” as part of their 25-year union agreement.