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Russia pumps up pressure on Belarus to open new front in Ukraine war, eyes anti-NATO ops. - WSJ

From Jerusalem Post · () English

Summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Named sources Ongoing story
  • Russia is reportedly pressuring Belarus to open a new front in the Ukraine war and use its territory for drone launches and anti-NATO operations.
  • Belarus has previously allowed Russia to use its territory for attacks, but President Lukashenko has expressed reluctance to be drawn further into the conflict.
  • Ukraine's President Zelensky has warned Belarus to remove Russian drone stations from its territory, threatening action if Minsk does not comply.

Russia is intensifying pressure on its ally Belarus, urging Minsk to open a new front in the Ukraine war and potentially engage in operations against NATO countries, according to a Wall Street Journal report citing former and current Russian and European officials.

We have said many times that it is absolutely unacceptable for the war between Ukraine and Russia to spill over into Belarusian territory.

— President Alexander LukashenkoLukashenko previously stated his country's position on the conflict.

Moscow has requested to use Belarusian territory for launching more drones into Ukraine and has also suggested utilizing Belarus, where it stores tactical nuclear weapons, for operations targeting NATO. Russia previously used Belarusian territory to launch its initial invasion of Kyiv in 2022. Although Belarusian forces have not directly engaged in combat, Minsk has allowed Russian troops and equipment to operate from its soil.

Despite Belarus's strategic importance to Russia, President Alexander Lukashenko has repeatedly stated that he does not want the war to spill over into his country, citing Belarus's "vulnerable" military position. However, recent reports indicate a deepening of military and economic ties, with Moscow increasing its use of ground drone stations in Belarus, where approximately 2,000 Russian troops are stationed. Belarus has also been supplying Russia with oil and gas, with rail shipments of gasoline and diesel from Belarusian refineries to Russia surging significantly this year.

I think a week will be enough for him to do it. If he doesn’t do it, we will.

— Volodymyr ZelenskyyZelenskyy issued a warning to Lukashenko regarding Russian drone stations.

Adding to the tension, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has issued a warning to Lukashenko. Zelensky claims to have intelligence indicating discussions between Minsk and Moscow about using Belarusian territory to attack southern Ukraine or the Baltic states. He has given Lukashenko one week to dismantle Russian drone stations on Belarusian soil, threatening that Ukraine will take action if the directive is not followed. Zelensky stated earlier this month, "When Lukashenko says he does not want to be involved in the war, he should be honest, at least with his own people."

When Lukashenko says he does not want to be involved in the war, he should be honest, at least with his own people.

— Volodymyr ZelenskyyZelenskyy criticized Lukashenko's stance on the war.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Jerusalem Post. Summarized and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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