<div style="text-align: justify; "><b style="font-size: 1rem;">Ukraine is tightening up the defence of its border with Belarus over fears that Russia may be preparing a fresh attack, a government official has said.</b><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Deputy Interior Minister Yevhen Yenin told the BBC Ukraine would be bolstering the Belarusian border with armed forces and ammunition.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">The news came as Vladimir Putin travelled to Minsk to meet Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Belarus shares a border with Russia as well as Ukraine.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">The Russian president later ordered the strengthening of Russia's borders and of social control within Russia. He said the security services should quickly thwart any attempt to violate Russia's borders, combat risks coming from abroad, and identify traitors and saboteurs.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">He also said the special services should ensure the safety of people living in the parts of Ukraine that Moscow claims as its own. In some of these areas, most notably Kherson, Russia recently suffered significant military reverses.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Russia's defence ministry announced that its troops stationed in Belarus would conduct joint military exercises with Belarus.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Reacting to this and the visit Mr Yenin confirmed: "We are building up our defence lines all across the border with Russia and with Belarus."</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">While Belarus has not become involved in the war directly, it did allow Russian troops to use its territory to launch the invasion in February.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Minsk is coming under increasing pressure from Moscow to step up its support in the "special military operation".</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">But Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov dismissed the reports "as totally stupid, groundless fabrications".</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">President Putin flew to Minsk for talks with President Lukashenko - the first time in three-and-a-half years the pair have met in Belarus.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">The meeting has been described as a "working visit" and lasted for more than two hours.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Speaking at a joint press conference President Putin said Russia did not want to "absorb" anyone. He also said that unspecified "enemies" wanted to stop Russia's integration with Belarus.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Speaking later on Monday, US state department spokesperson Ned Price said Putin's statement was the "height of irony" given he was currently seeking to absorb Ukraine.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Something rare happened today: Vladimir Putin got on a plane and flew to Minsk. Now, President Putin and President Alexander Lukashenko meet a lot - but in Russia.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">For the first time in three-and-a-half years, here was President Putin in Belarus. So why did he go… and why now?</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">There were few clues at the joint press conference as the two leaders spoke a lot about economic relations, trade, but also security.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">President Putin indicated that some Belarusian military aircraft have been re-equipped to potentially carry nuclear missiles and that Russia is helping to train their crews.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">In return, President Lukashenko thanked him for providing Belarus with an S-400 air defence system and Iskander ballistic missile system.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">The word "Ukraine" was hardly mentioned - in public.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">But the visit has fuelled speculation that the Kremlin leader may be trying to pressure the leader of Belarus into joining a possible new ground offensive in Ukraine.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">This may indeed be just a rumour. Or a ploy by Moscow to make Ukraine expect a Belarusian offensive and so tie up Ukrainian soldiers in the north.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">But, there are reportedly several thousand Russian soldiers already in Belarus and there have been joint exercises.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Until now Alexander Lukashenko has been reluctant to commit his own troops to fighting in Ukraine.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">All eyes are on Minsk to see if that remains the case. BBC</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify; ">bnbd24/kh</div>