Russia’s war in Ukraine: live updates News

A senior Russian spy chief has claimed the West is pushing Georgia, which borders Russia, into a conflict with Moscow to open a “second front” as the war in Ukraine is not being waged “in favor” of Kiev.

“We see persistent attempts by Washington, Brussels and London to convince the Georgian leadership of the need to open a so-called second front,” the head of Russia’s Foreign Intelligence Service, Sergei Naryshkin, told reporters on Tuesday while visiting Belarus, according to the Belarusian state. BelTA news agency.

“They see that the current situation on the battlefield does not favor Ukraine and they are forcing Georgia into conflict with the Russian Federation,” Naryshkin said, according to BelTa.

He also held a meeting with Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko on Tuesday, during which the Belarusian leader told Naryshkin that the two countries faced “serious” threats.

“Taking into account various developments that are taking place in the world, and not the last factor here is the fight against terrorism, we see that the special military operation of the Russian Federation prompted us to have a scrupulous look at the police, military and security,” Lukashenko said, according to BelTa.

Belarus KGB Chairman Ivan Tertel also attended the meeting with Lukashenko and will have a separate meeting with Naryshkin, according to BelTa.

Some context: Lukashenko is a key autocratic ally of Russian President Vladimir Putin. Belarus helped Russia launch its invasion in February 2022, allowing Moscow troops to enter the country through its shared border with Ukraine.

Last month, protests broke out in georgia after the country’s parliament passed the first reading of a bill that would require some organizations receiving foreign funding to register as “foreign agents.” The ruling party later announced it would scrap the controversial bill for fear it would drive a wedge between the Caucasian nation and Europe.