Vladimir Putin believes that if he succeeds in unifying Belarus with the Russian Federation, it will give him another triumph with the Russian people. But it is more likely, commentator Ilya Grashchenkov says, that it will create a situation much like that of Northern Ireland within the United Kingdom.
Protests in Belarus
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Paul Goble: Belarus could become Russia’s Northern Ireland
Russian President Vladimir Putin and Belarusian strongman Alexander Lukashenko pose on a boat during a boat trip on the Black Sea on May 29, 2021, as the close allies met for a second day for informal talks amidst the outcry after Minsk diverted a European plane. (AFP)
