Russian President Vladimir Putin is scheduled to meet with Belarusian President Lukashenko, who is visiting St. Petersburg, Russia's second largest city, on the 28th, and plans to strengthen cooperation in competing with the West.
Russian President Vladimir Putin visited present-day St. Petersburg, which was besieged by Nazi Germany during World War II, resulting in hundreds of thousands of casualties.
A commemorative event was held on the 27th to coincide with the 80th anniversary of the day when the Soviet army liberated the area, and in a speech, President Putin unilaterally compared Ukraine to the Nazis and appealed to the people. It evoked memories of World War II and once again emphasized its stance to justify its own military invasion.
He also railed against European countries that border Russia, including the Baltic states.
President Lukashenko of Belarus, an ally of Russia, also attended the commemorative event.
According to the Russian side, President Putin is scheduled to hold a summit meeting with President Lukashenko on the 28th, and plans to strengthen cooperation in countering the West.
On the 29th, we will hold a meeting to confirm economic and security cooperation between the two countries in preparation for the creation of a future united state.