Putin promises Lukashenko Russia will help protect Belarusian sovereignty if necessary
MOSCOW. Aug 27 (Interfax) - Russia has certain obligations to Belarus deriving from multilateral and bilateral agreements in regard to the protection of sovereignty and stability, and Moscow is ready to fulfill them, Russian President Vladimir Putin said.
"There is no need to make it a secret. There are relevant articles which say that all member states of these organizations, including the Union State, should assist one another in the protection of sovereignty, external borders, and stability. This is what they say," Putin said in an interview with the Rossiya-1 television channel (VGTRK).
"We have obligations to Belarus in this context, and [Belarusian President] Alexander Grigoryevich Lukashenko has raised the question this way: he would like us to provide him with the relevant assistance if necessary," he said.
"I said that Russia would fulfill all of its obligations," Putin said.