Huge fire erupts at Russian defence ministry in Moscow as Vladimir Putin holds talks nearby at the Kremlin

A FIRE broke out at Russia’s defence ministry as Vladimir Putin held talks just a short distance away at the Kremlin. Footage shows thick plumes of black smoke billowing from the third-floor windows of the building in Moscow. Smoke billowed from the Russia defence ministry building in MoscowEast2West East2WestSome 50 people have to be evacuated from the site[/caption] APIt came as Putin met with ally Alexander Lukashenko[/caption] Some 50 people were evacuated as flames ripped through the site. The blaze was at a building known as Apraksin House, which has housed the administrative services of the Russian Ministry of Defence since 1987. It is close to the headquarters of the defence ministry.  The location is several hundred yards from the Kremlin.  Some reports said the section on fire was a department of military property dealing with facilities across the country.  Putin was holding talks nearby at the Kremlin, believed to be with Belarus leader Alexander Lukashenko – an ally in his war with Ukraine. The cause of the inferno has not been confirmed.  The ministry is headed by close Putin ally Sergei Shoigu, and is responsible for Putin’s war in Ukraine. It comes as Putin welcomes Lukashenko to Moscow on Wednesday for two days of talks. But in their opening public remarks both despots steered clear of the war in Ukraine. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said last week the two leaders would discuss Lukashenko’s call for an immediate ceasefire in Ukraine. Last month Putin said Russia would deploy tactical nuclear weapons in Belarus. Putin told Lukashenko in comments broadcast by state television: “I must say that we have done a lot as a result of our joint work in all areas. “We will discuss all of this tomorrow – this applies to our cooperation in the international arena and jointly solving questions of ensuring the security of our states.”