Berlin closely following Putin's visit to Minsk

German government spokesperson Steffen Hebestreit said this at a briefing on Monday, December 19, according to an Ukrinform correspondent.

According to him, the federal chancellor is fully aware that Russian President Putin is visiting Belarus for the first time in three years.

"Of course, there are concerns about what this visit might entail: whether the role of Belarus in Russia's war of aggression against Ukraine will once again change or be modified," he said.

At the moment, everyone sees that Belarus is at least providing assistance to the Russian military, in particular by providing its airspace and ground bases, Hebestreit said. "Of course, Belarusian aid to the Russian army may increase," he said, but urged to wait for the results and not draw any conclusions in advance.

He also recalled that Chancellor Olaf Scholz in his recent interview spoke not only about differences of opinion with Russia over the past ten months, but also about "global differences on fundamental issues." Germany now strongly supports Ukraine and demands that Russia withdraw its troops and return to a "just peace."

Putin is visiting Belarus on December 19 for talks with Lukashenko. Since the beginning of the Russian war, the two dictators have met several times, but their meetings took place either on Russian territory or during regional forums.