Former Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba said that Russia wants to involve Belarus in a direct war against Ukraine. In his opinion, the Kremlin continues to put pressure on Alexander Lukashenko, but the Belarusian authorities are aware of the risks of a possible conflict. Kuleba also stressed that the military potential of Ukraine and its air defence systems is much more powerful than that of the Belarusian army.
Kuleba assesses Belarus' potential in a possible war
Commenting on the situation around Belarus, Dmytro Kuleba urged not to underestimate the Belarusian army, but stressed that its capabilities cannot be compared to the Ukrainian Defence Forces.
According to the diplomat, Russia has been actively building up military infrastructure on the territory of Belarus, including air defence systems and military facilities. At the same time, he stated that the Ukrainian military has much greater combat experience and potential.
«Putin wants Lukashenko to fight against Ukraine,» Kuleba said.
Lukashenko depends on stability at home
Kuleba also drew attention to the internal situation in Belarus. In his opinion, the authorities Alexander Lukashenko is largely based on the image of stability, order and control over the situation in the country.
He suggested that direct Belarus' involvement into a war could pose serious risks to the Lukashenko regime itself and the internal stability of the state.
The former minister stressed that two questions remain the main ones: in which direction the situation will develop and when new steps by the Kremlin may take place.
Belarus remains an ally of Russia
Since the beginning of Russia's full-scale invasion, the territory of Belarus has been repeatedly used to launch missiles, deploy Russian troops and provide logistical support to the Russian army.
Nevertheless, official Minsk has so far avoided direct involvement of the Belarusian army in hostilities against Ukraine.
Analysts believe that Lukashenko is trying to balance the Kremlin's demands with the risks of internal destabilisation.
Why it matters
Statements about Belarus' possible involvement in the war remain a key security factor for Ukraine and the entire region. The situation in the north and the distribution of Ukrainian defence forces depend on Minsk's actions.
At the same time, any escalation involving Belarus could significantly affect the security situation in Eastern Europe.
