President of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko, delivering a message to the National Assembly, proposed the format of an immediate truce in Ukraine. He believes that the fighting should be stopped without the right to move groups of troops and transfer weapons and equipment. The head of Belarus also criticized Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky, who signed a decree banning peace talks with Vladimir Putin. He considers such a decision by the Ukrainian president "ridiculous."
The Iskander-M operational and tactical missile system (OTRK), which can use conventional and nuclear missiles, was transferred to the Armed Forces of Belarus in April. This was stated by Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu.
A meeting of the Supreme State Council of the Union State was held in Moscow with the participation of the Presidents of Russia and Belarus, Vladimir Putin and Alexander Lukashenko. "Lukashenko said in the open part of the meeting that the day before he had discussed with the President of Russia issues of security, development of the military-industrial complex and defense of the Union State. He noted that the key areas in bilateral relations are industrial cooperation, integration in the energy sector, import substitution programs and reducing dependence on Western technologies. The West has begun to exert military pressure, building up NATO forces and assets at the borders, Lukashenko said: "They are especially concerned about the Kaliningrad region now." At the same time, he noted that now weapons have flowed into Russia from the territory of Ukraine, which then goes through the Bryansk region to his country. Lukashenko also said that it is necessary to create a "union media holding", since it is also impossible to lose the "battle for the minds and hearts of our citizens" on the fields of "media expressions". Putin also noted that measures are now being jointly implemented to minimize the damage from sanctions. The effectiveness of these measures is confirmed by the growing indicators of mutual trade. In 2021, the trade turnover between the countries increased by 35% to $40 billion, and in 2022 it increased by another 12% to $45 billion. A single integrated system for the administration of indirect taxes has been created, and the 2022 agreement on the recognition of technological operations is also being implemented, which made it possible to transfer the activities of industrial enterprises of the two countries to common standards. The creation of the united oil and gas markets of the two countries continues and an agreement on the formation of a single electric power market is being prepared for signing, Putin said. Russia and Belarus are increasing cooperation in the field of defense, security and military-technical cooperation," Vedomosti reports.