Putin and Lukashenko meet to strengthen ties

Russia's President Vladimir Putin denied his country's plans to absorb Belarus as he paid a rare visit to the country on Monday and as it was reported that the two allies are preparing for joint military exercises in the country.

Putin flew into Minsk with his defense and foreign ministers in tow, hours after Russian forces launched a swarm of attack drones at critical infrastructure in Kyiv, which provoked emergency blackouts in a dozen regions.

Russia and Belarus were "united by a common history and spiritual values", Putin said as he met his Belarusian counterpart Alexander Lukashenko.

Putin called the neighboring countries "closest allies and strategic partners" but said that speculation that Russia was seeking to take over Belarus came from "ill-wishers".

In Washington, a State Department spokesman, Ned Price, scoffed at Putin's remarks. "I think a statement like that has to be treated as the height of irony coming from a leader who is seeking at the present moment — right now — to violently absorb his other, peaceful next-door neighbor."

However, Putin said: "Russia has no interest in absorbing anyone. This would simply make no sense."

Belarus has let Russian forces use its territory, and hours before Putin touched down in Minsk, Moscow released footage of previous drills with Belarusian forces including tank maneuvers and sniper fire on a snow-dusted training ground.

On Monday, Russia's Interfax news agency, citing the Defense Ministry in Moscow, said Russian troops will conduct military exercises in Belarus.

"The final assessment of the combat capability and combat readiness of the units will be given …after the battalion tactical exercises have been conducted," Interfax quoted the ministry as saying.

It did not say when and where the drills will take place but the announcement came hours before Putin met Lukashenko.

Lukashenko called for closer military collaboration and said Russia and Belarus are "open for dialogue with other states, including European ones".

Drone attacks

The meeting between Putin and Lukashenko took place as the drone attacks wounded three near Kyiv.

The Mayor of Kyiv, Vitali Klitschko, said critical infrastructure facilities were damaged, and regional authorities said nine homes had been hit in the attacks.

Speaking to the leaders of several NATO countries via video link on Monday, Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky called for his country's allies to supply its military with more weapons.

Kyiv officials on Monday illuminated a Christmas tree in the city center, refusing to let Russia deprive Ukrainian children of festive season joy. The day ended with the unveiling of the 12-meter-high artificial tree decorated with white peace doves.

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, in an end-of-year news conference, said with regret that he expected the war "will go on".

"I am not optimistic about the possibility of effective peace talks in the immediate future."

Agencies contributed to this story.

REN QI in Moscow

renqi@chinadaily.com.cn