Lukashenko Denies Plans for Russian Air Base in Belarus

President Alexander Lukashenko denying any plans for a Russian air base in Belarus. (Russian only)
Belarussian President Alexander Lukashenko has denied that Moscow and Minsk are negotiating the possible establishment of a Russian air base in Belarus, days after Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu alarmed several NATO member states by announcing that they are.

Lukashenko told journalists that the two sides are discussing Belarus' desire to purchase about two dozen Russian-made fighter jets, not plans for a Russian air base in the country, according to a video posted by the Belta news agency on Friday.

"As far as the air base, it might have sounded somewhat like a base, but it's not. We're talking about deliveries to our armed forces," he said, adding that Belarus was interested in buying Su-27 and MiG-29 fighter jets to "ensure the inviolability of our state borders."

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