While Russian President Vladimir Putin promised his people in a two-hour speech that he would continue his war against Ukraine in violation of international law, the Kremlin apparently already has further plans to implement Putin’s empire fantasies.

An international association of several newspapers and research portals reported that plans for a gradual takeover of neighboring Belarus were well advanced in Moscow. By 2030, the dictatorship of Moscow-allied President Alexander Lukashenko is said to have been largely absorbed by Russia.