Ukraine Claims Putin Is Pushing Belarus Toward War

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has warned that Russia is trying to draw Belarus deeper into the war against Ukraine. Following talks with military and intelligence officials, he said Moscow was reportedly preparing new offensive operations from Belarusian territory, directed either at northern Ukraine, specifically the Chernihiv and Kyiv regions, or potentially against a NATO member country.

Zelensky also claims that Ukraine has intercepted further communications between Vladimir Putin and Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko.

Belarus has already allowed Russia to use its territory to attack Ukraine during the 2022 invasion, although it has not officially sent its own troops into the fighting. Moscow has since deployed tactical nuclear weapons and Oreshnik missiles in the country.

Zelensky stressed that Kyiv is preparing defensive measures and reinforcing its northern regions against any further aggression from the north.

(reuters, mja)