Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky claimed on Friday that Russia was considering launching new military operations from Belarusian territory, which could target either northern Ukraine or a NATO member country directly.
In a message posted on Telegram after a meeting with military and intelligence officials, Zelensky said that Moscow was seeking to draw Belarus further into the war against Ukraine that has been going on for more than four years.
According to the Ukrainian president, Kyiv has identified new contacts between Russia and Belarusian leader Alexander Lukashenko aimed at persuading Minsk to participate in "new Russian aggressive operations." Zelensky claims these discussions concern potential offensives launched from Belarusian territory.
The Ukrainian head of state mentioned two possible scenarios: an attack against the strategic Chernihiv-Kyiv axis in northern Ukraine, or an operation directed directly against a NATO member country. However, he provided no further details or publicly presented any evidence to support these claims.
Since the start of the Russian invasion in 2022, Belarus has been a key ally of Moscow. Belarusian territory notably served as a base for Russian forces during the initial offensive against Kyiv. Minsk has also hosted Russian troops, military equipment, and several joint exercises throughout the conflict.
Zelensky's statements come amid persistent tensions between Russia and the Atlantic Alliance. Several Eastern European NATO members, including Poland and the Baltic states, are closely monitoring Russian and Belarusian military activity near their borders, fearing an escalation of the conflict beyond Ukraine.
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