Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko was heading to Russia to meet with President Vladimir Putin on Friday evening, state media reported, a visit that comes amid escalating tensions between Ukraine and Belarus.

Russian and EU officials believe Moscow is pressuring Lukashenko with threats of reduced financial support if he refuses to cooperate.

Self-proclaimed Belarusian president Alexander Lukashenko has claimed that he met with representatives of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in Belarus.