Aleksandr G. Lukashenko, the autocratic leader of the former Soviet republic of Belarus and an ardent backer of Russia in its war against Ukraine, seems to be back at an old game of maneuvering between East and West.

Experts have said Moscow may be setting the stage for a "false flag operation" in the breakaway Transnistria region of Moldova.

Switzerland adopted the latest EU sanctions package on Russia and Belarus, the government said on Monday. The move came one week after the European Union targeted Moscow's vessels and Chinese entities found to have traded with the Russian military.

According to him, Belarus’ trade with Bashkortostan is increasing, and the range of mutual trade is expanding. “The most important thing is the setting up of joint ventures.

Russia has held several rounds of tactical nuclear weapons drills this year, and regularly carries out military exercises for its strategic nuclear forces.

Russian President Vladimir Putin and his Belarusian counterpart Alexander Lukashenko sign a security pact, announcing the potential deployment of Russian Oreshnik missiles in Belarus. Lukashenko frees 29 more political prisoners amid an ongoing pre-election civil society clampdown.

Belarusian oil refineries continue to operate steadily due to the created reserves of hydrocarbon raw materials. This was announced on December 20 by the Belneftekhim concern, commenting on the information about the suspension of oil supplies via the Druzhba oil pipeline.

Europe cannot survive without Russia and Belarus, Belarusian President Aleksandr Lukashenko said as he met with Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin on , BelTA has learned.

BRUSSELS (Reuters) - The European Commission will invest more in surveillance at the bloc's borders with Russia and Belarus, it said on Wednesday, as it accused Russia of encouraging migrants over the border in a "hybrid war" tactic.

Switzerland has enforced the EU's latest sanctions package targeting Russia and Belarus. This includes freezing the assets of 54 individuals and 30 entities, and banning 52 Russian-affiliated ships. These sanctions aim to restrict Russian military activities and punish those bypassing trading limits on Russian crude oil.

The European Commission has recognised certain restrictions on the rights of migrants, which Russia and Belarus use as part of their migration pressure on EU member states, as acceptable. Source: a statement by the European Commission on 11 December,

President Aleksandr G. Lukashenko of Belarus keeps arresting political opponents, but analysts wonder if a string of unusual pardons is a bid to get sanctions eased.