Zelensky warns Belarus could be pulled back into Ukraine war
Zelensky warns Belarus could be pulled back into Ukraine war
Zelensky says Russia may drag Belarus into the conflict again, citing border-area activity and new artillery positions as Kyiv vows to defend its land.
President Volodymyr Zelensky has warned that Moscow could try to pull Belarus back into the war in Ukraine, based on what Kyiv says is a fresh intelligence picture from its top commander. He cited new evidence of road building in areas leading to Ukraine and the establishment of artillery positions along the Belarusian border, arguing these moves point to renewed Russian efforts on Minsk’s doorstep. Zelensky stressed that Ukraine understands Russia’s broader strategy to regroup its forces, and he said the Kremlin’s aim appears to be compensating for a shortage of manpower. The president also said Ukraine has given warnings to Belarus’s leadership that Kyiv is prepared to defend its land and independence if needed.
Belarus has long been a close ally of Moscow and allowed Russian forces to use its territory as a staging area during parts of the 2022 invasion. While President Alexander Lukashenko has publicly ruled out sending Belarusian troops into the war, Minsk has faced Western sanctions and ongoing scrutiny over its role in the conflict. The United States has recently sought warmer ties with Minsk while lifting some sanctions and warning against facilitating sanctions evasion or further support for the war. Ukraine’s intelligence says the new activity near the border could be part of a broader Russian regrouping, a move analysts say could raise the risk of an escalated clash along the frontier.
Officials stressed that the evidence has not been publicly detailed, and the situation remains fluid. Experts warn that even a perceived buildup on the border can raise tensions and prompt pre-emptive defensive measures on both sides. The development comes as Europe watches for any shift in the conflict that could widen the fighting beyond Ukraine’s borders and test NATO’s eastern flank.
Kyiv's message is a reminder that the war’s geography is evolving, with border regions once again at the center of questions about risk, deterrence, and the possibility of a broader confrontation.
