Alexander Lukashenko (from left) and Vladimir Putin.
Photo-LETA/AFP
NATO believes that Belarus could get involved in the Russian war in Ukraine in the near future, citing US and NATO officials, CNN reports.
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Belarus is already preparing for such a step, CNN reports.
The possibility of Belarus joining the war is growing, a NATO official said, adding that Russian President Vladimir Putin “needs support”.
A source in the Belarusian opposition revealed that Belarusian combat units are ready to enter Ukraine in the next few days and that thousands of troops have been prepared to be sent to Ukraine. The source believes that this will have a major geopolitical impact, given the consequences of another country’s involvement in the war.
A senior NATO intelligence official revealed that, in NATO’s assessment, the Belarussian government was preparing the environment to justify an attack on Ukraine.
Belarus decided last month to allow the continued deployment of Russian troops and nuclear weapons on its territory, but U.S. officials have stressed that they have not received any evidence that Russia is transferring nuclear weapons.
Sources stressed that so far there is no evidence that Belarusian soldiers are fighting in Ukraine.
A NATO official said that the final decision on Belarus’s involvement in the war would be made in Moscow.
“It simply came to our notice then [Baltkrievijas līderis Aleksandrs] Lukashenko. The question is, does Putin want another fragile state in the region? ” said the official.
“Involvement would destabilize Belarus,” the official said, not disclosing more details on how Belarus might get involved in the war, but saying it would be logical for Moscow to cut off NATO’s military assistance to Ukraine through the western border.
Russia currently uses the territory of Belarus for air strikes on Ukraine and other military operations.
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