President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said on Friday that Russia was seeking to draw Belarus deeper into the war in Ukraine and was considering plans for potential attacks on Ukraine's north or even NATO territory from Belarusian soil. "We continue to document Russia's attempts to draw Belarus deeper into the war against Ukraine," Zelenskyy said on Telegram after meeting military and intelligence officials. He said Ukraine had documented additional contacts between Russian and Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko aimed at bringing Minsk into "new Russian aggressive operations." "Russia is conside

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said on Friday that Russia was seeking to draw Belarus deeper into the war in Ukraine and was considering plans for potential attacks on Ukraine's north or even NATO territory from Belarusian soil.

"We continue to document Russia's attempts to draw Belarus deeper into the war against Ukraine," Zelenskyy said on Telegram after meeting military and intelligence officials.

He said Ukraine had documented additional contacts between Russian and Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko aimed at bringing Minsk into "new Russian aggressive operations."

"Russia is considering plans for operations south and north of Belarusian territory, either against the Chernihiv-Kyiv direction in Ukraine or against a NATO country directly from Belarus," Zelenskyy said, without providing further details.

Belarus borders Ukraine to the south and NATO members Poland, Lithuania and Latvia to the north and west, making it a potential launchpad for operations in multiple directions. NATO had not issued a public response to Zelenskyy's remarks at the time of publication.

There was no immediate response from Moscow or Minsk. Russia does not publicly disclose its military plans in Ukraine, which are classified as state secrets.

Lukashenko, one of Russian President Vladimir Putin's closest allies, allowed Belarusian territory to be used in part of Russia's February 2022 invasion of Ukraine, though he has not committed Belarusian troops to the fighting. Minsk has since agreed to deploy Russian tactical nuclear weapons and hypersonic Oreshnik missiles on its territory.

Zelenskyy said last month that Ukraine had intelligence indicating Russia was making preparations to once again involve Belarus in the war. He warned on Friday that Ukraine would defend itself if Lukashenko chose to support Russian intentions.

"Ukraine will undoubtedly defend itself and its people if Alexander Lukashenko makes the wrong call and decides to support this Russian intention as well," he said.

Zelenskyy said he had instructed Ukraine's defence forces to prepare a response plan and to strengthen defences in the northern Chernihiv and Kyiv regions.

Source: Reuters

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