Part 6/8:

Efforts to create a Union State between Belarus and Russia are far from new; the concept first emerged in the 1990s under Yeltsin but has often remained unrealized. Following Putin's annexation of Crimea in 2014, the idea regained traction. The leaked document reveals that Putin aims to re-establish a form of dominance reminiscent of the Soviet Union, targeting not just Belarus, but also other neighboring states.

The ongoing war in Ukraine necessitated renewed military cooperation between the two countries, further entrenching Belarus's role as a launchpad for Russian military operations. Though Lukashenko has refrained from committing Belarusian troops directly to the conflict, his government has provided substantial logistical support to the Russian military.