Thread by @generalsvr_en

Yesterday, #Russian President #Putin had a call with #Lukashenko. Putin congratulated Lukashenko on his birthday and tried, as far as he could, to dispel Lukashenko's doubts about his (Putin's) alleged statement that independent Belarus has no right to exist.
1/11

#Lukashenko pretended not to consider the "rumors" spread by unfriendly politicians who want to darken his fraternal relations with the Russian President worthy of attention. In response to #Putin’s congratulations, Lukashenko explicitly asked for a gift of 7bn dollars.
2/11

Otherwise, #Lukashenko said, it would be problematic to maintain Russian-friendly sentiments in Belarus, and the lack of opportunities to facilitate the "special military operation" from the territory of Belarus could become a huge problem.
3/11

#Putin promised 4 billion, but #Lukashenko, literally interrupting the Russian President, said that four billion is not enough and seven is needed. Putin said goodbye, promising to think.
4/11

Also, yesterday the President of #Russia held a meeting with the Director of the Russian National Guard, Viktor Zolotov. The meeting was, as they say, in public and for show.
5/11

The detached look of the President during Zolotov's report spoke of Putin's thoughts about the fate of the Director of the National Guard. For some time now, the President has been discussing with his inner circle the possibility of appointing Zolotov as Minister of Defense.
6/11

According to these discussions, a sham position in the #Russian Security Council should be created for Shoigu. But as one of #Putin's interlocutors said during the discussion of Zolotov's candidacy for the post of Minister of Defense: "He's a moron!"
7/11

To that #Putin reasonably retorted: "And who among them is not a moron?" #Patrushev is strongly against moving Shoigu to the next Deputy Chairman of the Security Council. According to Patrushev, it is not necessary to turn the structure of the Security Council into a circus.
8/11

One clown (#Medvedev) is enough there. #Putin did not make the decision, and yesterday's meeting was unsuccessful.
9/11

We have already reported that the President actually removed Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu, Chief of the General Staff of the Russian Armed Forces Valery Gerasimov and several generals from decision-making.
10/11

That is despite the fact that all of them nominally remain in their posts and imitate, if necessary, violent activity. And #Putin, from time to time, discusses the possibility of castling in the leadership of the military bloc.
11/11