Russian President Vladimir Putin has expressed hope that the capabilities and influence of a Russian-led military alliance will increase.

Putin was speaking at a summit of the Collective Security Treaty Organization, or CSTO, on Monday in Moscow.

The meeting coincides with the 30th anniversary of the signing of the treaty forming the military alliance.

The leaders of all the six member nations took part. The members are Russia and the former Soviet states of Belarus, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan and Armenia.

Putin said in his opening speech that the leaders gathered in Moscow for of the 30th anniversary.

He said the alliance plays a very important role in bringing stability to the post-Soviet space.

Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko accused Western nations of carrying out what he called full-fledged hybrid attacks on Belarus and Russia.

He said the West is hoping to prolong the conflict in Ukraine to try to weaken Russia as much as possible.

Monday's meeting was the first CSTO summit since Russia began its invasion of Ukraine in February.

Russia is becoming increasingly isolated under increasingly strict Western sanctions. Observers say Putin aims to show the unity of the alliance to keep Europe and the US in check.