Russian President Vladimir Putin is tightening his embrace of beleaguered ally Alexander Lukashenko as the Belarusian ruler intensifies a crackdown on monthlong protests.
Putin, who hosts Lukashenko for talks in Sochi on Monday, is determined opposition demonstrators won’t topple the Belarusian president, said five people close to the Kremlin, who asked not to be identified discussing internal policy.
It’s their first face-to-face meeting since daily protests erupted in Belarus demanding Lukashenko’s resignation after he claimed to win a landslide in Aug. 9 elections to extend his 26-year rule. The demonstrations show no sign of fading and Lukashenko has made no concessions.