Lukashenko’s balancing act


Lukashenko speaking to reporters in Minsk. — ©️2025 The New York Times Company

ALEXANDER Lukashenko, the autocratic leader of the former Soviet republic of Belarus and an ardent backer of Russia in its war against Ukraine, seems to be back at an old game of manoeuvering between East and West.

He has been resolute in his support of Russia, and announced last month that Belarus had Russian nuclear weapons on its soil and was ready to host what Moscow has called its new hypersonic ballistic missile if it is deployed.

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