Lukashenko seems to be haggling over the price Belarus independence will pay for Russian support to keep Lukashenko in power.
Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko on Monday flew to Russia for one-to-one talks with his counterpart Vladimir Putin as Moscow has offered security aid while urging closer integration with its neighbour.
The talks are the first meeting between the long-serving leaders and close allies since Lukashenko's disputed win in August 9 polls prompted mass protests against his rule, with tens of thousands taking part in the latest demonstration in Minsk on Sunday.
What can the West do in this crisis to halt a Russian Anschluss with Belarus that doesn't abandon Belarus opposition that it protesting Lukashenko's blatant theft of the August election?
This article says there are seven things, but it suffers from the basic flaw that Russia would never go along with it.
I don't know what is possible to help Belarus given its unfortunate position.
I just know Belarus is probably the most important territory in Europe today.