The leader of Belarus, an ally of Russia, will visit China

BEIJING (AP) — Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko, an ally of Moscow, will visit Beijing this week, China’s Foreign Ministry said.

Spokesman Hua Chunying said Lukashenko will visit the country from Tuesday to Thursday, but gave no details on his schedule.

Belarus supports Moscow and allowed its territory to be used as a base for the initial invasion of Ukraine a year ago.

Lukashenko has been Belarus’ only president since the post was created in 1994 and crushed protests in 2020 after winning re-election in an election the opposition and Western countries say was rigged.

The visit comes as senior US officials reiterated warnings to China not to provide military aid to Russia in its war against Ukraine, saying it would have serious consequences.

CIA Director William Burns said providing such help “would be a very risky and reckless gamble”.

Beijing claims to be neutral in the war that began a year ago, but also said it had “unlimited friendship” with Russia and refused to criticize the invasion or even call it that. He accuses the West of provoking the conflict and “fanning the flames” by providing Ukraine with defensive weapons.

Beijing released a proposal on Friday calling for a ceasefire and peace talks between Ukraine and Russia. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy cautiously welcomed China’s involvement, but said success would depend on actions, not words.

Chinese President Xi Jinping is believed to be preparing to visit Russia in the coming months.