Mr. Putin stepped in to the rescue, backing Mr. Lukashenko’s harsh tactics. It also made Minsk off limits as a meeting place, as the West levied sanctions and isolated Mr. Lukashenko diplomatically. Mr. Lukashenko, now totally dependent on the Kremlin in his bid to cling to power, was in no position to resist. Mr. Lukashenko won’t benefit in any way from Mr. Prigozhin’s demise on his territory and probably hopes his sojourn is brief. Mr. Lukashenko will never be that person.

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Persons: brazenly, Lukashenko, Putin, Mr, Prigozhin, Lukashenko won’t, he’s Organizations: Kremlin Locations: Russia, Russian, Belarus, Minsk, Ukraine