Lukashenko-Putin talks spark fears Belarus could be pulled into war in Ukraine

Russia's president Vladimir Putin is visiting Belarus along with his defence and foreign ministers, as fears grow in Kyiv that Moscow wants to push its closest ally into a new ground offensive in Ukraine.

- CHRIS STEVENSON

Sitting alongside Belarus president Alexander Lukashenko before their talks in Minsk, Mr Putin is said to have emphasised the close military-technical ties between the allies.

Mr Putin was allowed to use Belarus as the launchpad for his offensive against Kyiv when the invasion of Ukraine began in February - although Lukashenko has repeatedly said his nation, which relies heavily on Moscow for support, will not enter the war given how unpopular such a move could prove in his country.

Ukrainian joint forces commander Serhiy Nayev had said he believed the talks would address "further aggression against Ukraine and the broader involvement of the Belarusian armed forces in the operation against Ukraine, in particular, in our opinion, also on the ground". Mr Putin arrived in Minsk shortly after Russia's defence ministry announced that its troops stationed in Belarus since October will conduct joint military exercises, while three Russian warplanes and an airborne early warning system and control aircraft were deployed to Belarus last week.