Zelensky warns that Russia is considering an attack on a NATO country on the territory of Belarus
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said on Friday that Russia is trying to further involve Belarus in the war in Ukraine and is considering plans for an attack on northern Ukraine or on a NATO country on Belarusian territory, Reuters notes.
“We continue to document Russia's attempts to draw Belarus deeper into the war against Ukraine,” Zelensky wrote on Telegram after a meeting with military and intelligence officials.
The Kiev leader said Ukraine has information about new contacts between Russia and Belarusian President Aleksandr Lukashenko, through which Moscow is trying to persuade him to participate in “new aggressive Russian operations”.
“Russia is considering plans for operations south and north of Belarusian territory, either in the direction of Chernihiv-Kiev, in Ukraine, or directly against one of the NATO countries, on the territory of Belarus,” Zelenskiy said, without giving further details.
Belarus borders Ukraine to the south, and NATO member states such as Poland, Lithuania and Latvia to the north and west.
Moscow and Minsk did not immediately react to Zelensky's statements. Russia does not make public its military plans in Ukraine, they are classified as state secrets.
Aleksandr Lukashenko, one of Russian President Vladimir Putin's closest allies, allowed Belarusian territory to be used for part of Russia's February 2022 invasion of Ukraine, although he did not send Belarusian troops to fight in the war.
Subsequently, Minsk accepted the deployment on its territory of Russian tactical nuclear weapons and Oresnik hypersonic missiles.
Zelenskiy said last month that Ukraine has information that Russia is making preparations that show it is trying to re-engage Belarus in the war that began more than four years ago.
“Ukraine will undoubtedly defend itself and its citizens if Aleksandr Lukashenko makes the wrong decision and decides to support this Russian intention as well,” he said.
Zelensky added that he asked the Ukrainian defense forces to prepare a response plan and strengthen defenses in the northern regions of Chernihiv and Kiev.
