On paper still Europe’s biggest pariah, the Belarusian leader is keen to use the Minsk summit to boost popularity at home and mend fences with the EU. The last time an EU leader visited Minsk was Italy’s Silvio Berlusconi in 2009 to sign arms and energy deals.
Russia's War Against Ukraine
EUobserver: Lukashenko angles for better EU ties
Belarus' President Alexander Lukashenko (R) gives flowers to German Chancellor Angela Merkel (2ndL) as he welcomes her and France's President Francois Hollande (L) at the presidential residence in Minsk on Feb. 11.
