One of Russia's few remaining allies asked Moscow for guarantees that it would defend his country if it was attacked

• Belarus' leader Alexander Lukashenko asked Russia to defend it if attacked, state media reported.
• The embattled leader asked Russia to protect his country "as its own territory."
• Lukashenko could be reacting to Finland's recent accession to NATO, one expert said. 

Belarusian leader Alexander Lukashenko has asked for President Vladimir Putin's assurance that Russia would defend his country in the event of an attack. This comes as tensions with the West continue following Russia's invasion of Ukraine last year.