Putin will not attack a NATO country. However, it makes sense to have a base in Minsk just in case a color revolution is tried in Belarus and Lukashenko needs immediate help from troops who would not be willing to change sides. Having troops and equipment in real south region of Belarus makes sense in the event hostilities break out with Ukraine. Mere 150-200 kms distance from Belarus to Kiev. Just take Kiev and whole Ukraine is in your pocket.
This becomes actual again... But Putin has already enough problems in Russia with Navalny. Putin is scared to death that people would start manifestations like in Belarus. Especially now just before new elections. Belarus and Russia have the same political structure: dictators, repression, fake elections, manipulation of the media...and stealing all the money.
Jokes going around on russian forums. Loekasjenko calls Putin and ask: Vladimir why don't you congratulate me with my victory? Putin answers: It is too early because you did not count the votes yet. Answer from Loekasjenko: Vladimir, did you ever count your votes? Scientists are urgently trying to find a vaccine against the Russian Covid-19vaccine. A Russian farmer said: give me 5 kilo sugar and I can make 8 liter vaccine...
A few random points: Putin started Ukrainian blitz after his economy tanked in 2012 and huge manifestations in Moscow took place. Mr Navalny is a KGB school graduate, most likely, yet another little part in managed opposition project, a honey pot for various useful idiots. [Patrice Lumumba University was a 5th Directorate school for provincial cadre] Sarah Palin made a statement that Ukraine would be the next one right after Russians bombed Republic of Georgia. She was discounted right away. Not in the open source domain, but Ukrainians wreaked big time havoc to Russian ground forces in Donbas right at the beginning of the adventure, while reporting otherwise. Quite a few big bad bada booms there, very painful to lose a tank battalion in one salvo... Russians don't want that flow of dead bodies any more. They are into slow choke strategy now. You can put this through a translator to get an idea of what's going on in the field in Minsk: https://www.abw.by/novosti/rb/216428 I didn't understand some details via translator, but the picture on the ground is horrible and under-reported.