Belarus: A Notable Meeting

Representatives from the national security councils of Belarus, Ukraine and Poland met June 23 and agreed to set up the "Kiev Initiative," a means of cooperation among the three countries and part of the EU Eastern Partnership program. The presence of State Secretary of the Belarus Security Council Yuri Zhadobin was notable; his Ukrainian and Polish counterparts meet with each other frequently. Zhadobin's attendance at the meeting indicates that Belarus is feeling angst toward Russia and could lead Moscow to tighten its grip on Minsk even more.