Alexander Lukashenko

The Belarusian leader reportedly showed Putin a map of the alleged movement of Polish troops near the Belarusian cities of Brest and Grodno along the border.

Alexander Lukashenko, who has ruled Belarus since 1994, dismissed claims that he was "Europe's last dictator" on Thursday.

Yevgeny Prigozhin, the leader of the Wagner mercenary group, is no longer in Belarus and there are reports that he may have returned to Russia.

Despite an agreement de-escalating the situation being struck shortly after the start of Prigozhin's brief mutiny, the Belarusian president said Putin wanted the Wagner leader "wiped out."

"I see Prigozhin is already flying in on this plane," President Alexander Lukashenko was quoted as saying. "Yes, indeed, he is in Belarus today."

Following the cessation of the brief Wagner revolt in Russia, a deal was reached exiling Wagner leader Yevgeny Prigozhin to Belarus. Now, a jet linked to the Wagner leader arrived in Minsk.

The deal de-escalating Wagner's brief mutiny has resulted in Wagner fighters pulling out of the Russian town they initially seized on their way to Moscow.

Belarus allowed Russia to use it as one of the launchpads for its full-scale invasion of Ukraine last year. It has held frequent exercises with Russia and let Russian forces use its bases.

The deployment of nuclear weapons in Belarus is Moscow's first move of such warheads outside Russia since the fall of the Soviet Union.

The deployment is Moscow's first move of such warheads outside Russia since the fall of the Soviet Union.