The Belarusian leader is visiting Beijing days after China proposed a ceasefire between Russia and Ukraine, and hours after a Russian reconnaissance plane was sabotaged at a Belarusian air base. On the ground, Kiev says the invading forces are stepping up the intensity of attacks and trying to advance in five directions.
Alexander Lukashenko, the autocrat who has been in power for nearly three decades, visits China where he is welcomed by Xi Jinping, the most powerful Chinese leader since Mao Zedong. The former is Russia’s Vladimir Putin’s main ally and has collaborated with Moscow in allowing attacks from its territory – though it has so far avoided involving its military. The second said days before last year’s invasion that the China-Russia partnership “knows no boundaries,” and a few days ago, senior diplomat Wang Yi again praised Sino-Russian relations: “They have a mature character, they are solid and will withstand any test in a changing international situation”.
By welcoming the man who is formally the leader of the State Union of Russia and Belarus, does Beijing give Moscow a greater show of support or, on the contrary, does it offer Lukashenko other options to a country targeted by Western sanctions?
Minsk said the visit to China is an opportunity to provide a “response to the pressing challenges in the current international environment”. Beijing, which opposes “interference by external forces in Belarusian internal affairs and the unlawful imposition of unilateral sanctions”, says it wants to develop a “strategic partnership” with Minsk.
For the director of the Council for Dialogue in International Relations of Minsk Yauheni Preiherman, his country has long tried to deepen relations with China, something that has gained more importance due to the sanctions, so Lukashenko will be interested in getting trade and investment agreements, starting in the military field. But the visit will also have a different character: “Because Belarus is so close to Russia and the battlefield, Lukashenko has exclusive information about the situation on the battlefield. I am sure this will be of particular interest to the leaders of Beijing,” he said. New York Times.
After the start of the invasion, Belarusian railways were targeted by partisans to prevent the transportation of Russian military equipment. There is news of the main act of sabotage. According to Belarusian media, drones hit a Russian A-50 aircraft at Machulishchy air base, which has long-range radar for locating aircraft – an important component for aerial dominance.
The visit comes as senior US officials and NATO’s secretary general are warning of the possibility of China supplying Russia with military equipment. Beijing on Friday released a proposal for a ceasefire and peace talks between Ukraine and Russia, which was met with skepticism in the West. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky also showed some caution. China has not condemned the Russian invasion and says it is taking a neutral stance, but critics say it cannot mediate the conflict because of ties to Russia.
On the war front, Deputy Defense Secretary Hanna Maliar said that “the enemy is increasing the intensity of strike operations,” claiming that the Russians are inflicting 600 to 1,000 casualties every day. The Ukrainian General Staff said the Russians were trying to advance in five directions after launching 28 airstrikes, including 12 with Iranian drones – British military intelligence officials said for days Moscow was “almost” without drones.
Source: DN
