Russian President Vladimir Putin will meet with Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko on Thursday. They are expected to discuss stronger cooperation on economic and security issues, including the planned deployment of tactical nuclear weapons in Belarus.

Lukashenko is in Moscow on a two-day visit at Putin's invitation since Wednesday. Cabinet ministers from both countries will be attending Thursday's meeting to discuss the establishment of a union state of Russia and Belarus in the future.

The leaders are expected to advance talks on stationing tactical nuclear weapons in Belarus following Putin's announcement last month of the deployment. He said a storage facility for such weapons is scheduled to be constructed in Belarus by July 1.

The two countries claim that the threat from NATO is growing as member countries boost military support for Ukraine.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy visited neighboring Poland on Wednesday as he prepares to make massive counterattacks on Russia. He called for further support to fully retake Russian-occupied territory.