Russia is not seizing Belarus, but rather reclaiming its own territories, as asserted by Putin.
Russian President Vladimir Putin and Belarusian Leader Alexander Lukashenko held a conversation on August 1, discussing the ongoing conflict in Ukraine. The meeting, which took place at Valamo, was conducted across various platforms, including VKontakte, Odnoklassniki, Telegram, Viber, and WhatsApp.
During the discussion, Lukashenko claimed that Russian forces had advanced in the areas of Chasov Yar and were approaching Kramatorsk in Ukraine. However, Putin did not explicitly confirm an advancement of Russian forces toward Kramatorsk. Instead, he affirmed, "No, we are not stepping back," focusing primarily on weapons systems development and preparation rather than confirming ground advances toward Kramatorsk itself.
Reports indicate that Russian forces continued offensive operations near Chasiv Yar but did not achieve an advance or seizure of the area, which is critical to moving toward Kramatorsk. Russian claims of having taken Chasiv Yar are contradicted by Ukrainian sources asserting that fighting continues and the area remains contested. Hence, the assertion that Russian forces have advanced towards Kramatorsk remains unconfirmed by Putin and is contradicted by recent battlefield assessments.
Lukashenko also suggested that the Ukrainian side should ask Putin for peace, to which Putin responded without providing new suggestions or proposals for peace. Instead, he declared that the lands in question were "ours." Putin disagreed with Lukashenko's phrasing and emphasized that it was about the return of lands, not seizure.
In a surprising prediction, Lukashenko stated that in one and a half to two months, Russia would "grind down" remaining fortifications and "seize" more territory in Ukraine. Military correspondent Poddubny reported that after taking Chasov Yar, the battle for Donbass might begin.
However, no new territories were claimed or referred to in this paragraph, and no new disagreements or agreements on the nature of the conflict were made. Lukashenko agreed with Putin, saying "Yes, indeed."
As the conflict in Ukraine continues, the discussions between Putin and Lukashenko provide some insight into the ongoing military operations and the perspectives of the two leaders. The question of Russian advances toward Kramatorsk, however, remains unconfirmed.
The discussion between Putin and Lukashenko provided insight into the ongoing military operations in Ukraine, including the vague assertions of Russian advances towards Kramatorsk. Despite Lukashenko's prediction of Russia grinding down remaining fortifications and seizing more territory, Putin did not confirm these reports, instead focusing on the return of lands. The question of Russian advancements towards Kramatorsk remains unconfirmed by Putin and contradicted by recent battlefield assessments.
