Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko on Monday said that Belarus and Russia agreed to deploy a joint military force in response to tensions on the western borders of the “Union State,” which refers to the combined territories of the two nations.
“In the wake of escalations on the western borders of the Union State, we agreed on deploying a regional group of forces of the Russian Federation and the Republic of Belarus,” Lukashenko said, according to the Russian news agency TASS.
The Belarusian leader didn’t specify where the troops might be deployed. He said Russia and Belarus began combining troops two days ago, after the Ukrainian attack on the Kerch Bridge, which links Crimea to the Russian mainland.
The Belarusian leader claimed that Ukraine is discussing plans to launch attacks on Belarus. “I have already said that Ukraine today it is not just discussing but planning strikes on Belarusian territory,” he said.
Lukashenko said it would be “madness” for Ukraine to open a second front but that “nevertheless, the process has begun.” He claimed that Ukraine’s Western backers are pushing for an attack on Belarus.
Russia launched part of its initial invasion from Belarusian territory, but so far, Belarus has not entered the war. The US and its allies have been driving Russia and Belarus closer together by imposing sanctions on both nations. Russian President Vladimir Putin has previously said that this pressure from the West is pushing the “unification process” between Russia and Belarus.
Russia and Belarus signed a treaty in 1997 known as the Union State that would integrate the two nations. Under the agreement, they would remain separate sovereign states, but Russian and Belarusian citizens would be granted citizenship for both countries and would be able to travel freely.
Well they have been sanctioned for not joining the war so they might as well join it.
If your country is Hosting Russian soldiers and weaponry as well as providing your nation’s ground and airspace to facilitate an invasion/attack on Ukraine, you have joined the war indirectly hence the sanctions. They have joined the war by physically supporting Russia.
You should know this better.
One could easily make the same argument about the NATO countries that you do about Belarus. NATO is exploiting a Russo-Ukrainian conflict and prolonging a conflict that would have been over many months ago. How many are dead and maimed as a result? And for what? To make some kind of anti-Russian statement?
We have soldiers and aircraft stationed all over Europe.
Yes, you are right but we were talking about Belarus.
We sing the NATO song all day here.
In my opinion, Lukashenko is just an empty wagon saying things Putin wants to hear. The Belarusian Army is less trained and equipped than the Russian one. If the Belarussian Army crosses the border into Northern Ukraine, they will get lit up badly by the better trained, equipped, and experience Ukraine fighters. Plus, the Belarusian people including soldiers identify more with the Ukraine cause so we may see some rebellion there. Not to mention a potential national protest Lukashenko will have to deal with on the home front.
I don’t believe Lukashenko is truly planning to “deploy” his troops into Ukraine. It’ll be more of a direct support from Russian territory for the Russian troops operating in the rear.
Lukashenko isn’t “planning” anything. He’s a satrap. He gets instructions/orders from Moscow, and follows them.
Every European dictator has two potential opponents. One: a group which wants democracy. Two: a group which wants another dictator.
I suspect but have no proof that Lukashenko might have domestic troubles for which he asked and got Putin’s back.
NATO-US could be seriously plotting a regime change which would be enormously helpful for Ukraine.
“Today, more than at perhaps any point in American history, financial power rests in the hands of those with the least interest in the truth.”. Terrorism, bridge destruction, is the weapon of the weak. Yesterday’s attacks on Ukrainian infrastructure are a turning point. Psychological ‘feel good’ victories are a defeat if the war gets nastier. If it wasn’t the PLO would be in control in the middle East & the Syrian rebels would of won. I am antiwar.