Lukashenko Warns Belarus Could Enter 2022 War, Offers Zelenskyy Direct Talks
Updated
Updated · UNITED24 Media · May 21
Lukashenko Warns Belarus Could Enter 2022 War, Offers Zelenskyy Direct Talks
9 articles · Updated · UNITED24 Media · May 21
Belarus would officially join Russia’s war only if attacked first, Alexander Lukashenko said, while unexpectedly offering to meet Volodymyr Zelenskyy anywhere in Ukraine or Belarus.
Kyiv rejected both messages, with presidential adviser Dmytro Lytvyn saying Lukashenko’s words “mean nothing” and that Ukraine is watching actions on the northern border, not rhetoric.
The exchange followed Zelenskyy’s warning that Moscow is trying to pull Minsk deeper into the conflict and that intelligence is assessing offensive scenarios from Belarusian territory and Russia’s Bryansk region.
In Slavutych near the Belarus border, Zelenskyy discussed urgent security steps as Ukraine ordered stronger northern defenses and pushed diplomats to increase pressure on Belarus with partners.
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With Russian nukes on its soil, is Belarus a sovereign actor or just a pawn in Moscow's game?
Belarus’s Deepening Role in Russia’s War Against Ukraine: Nuclear Escalation, Lukashenko’s Diplomatic Maneuvers, and the Risks for Regional Security
Overview
Belarus, under President Lukashenko, has offered dialogue with Ukraine while simultaneously conducting joint nuclear exercises with Russia, raising serious security concerns for Kyiv. Belarus played a key role in Russia’s 2022 invasion by allowing Russian forces to attack Ukraine from its territory, and continues to support Russia’s war efforts through military maneuvers and aggressive rhetoric. Ukraine views these actions as a persistent threat, leading to immediate rejection of Lukashenko’s peace overtures. This ongoing military cooperation with Russia, especially involving nuclear weapons, deepens Belarus’s isolation and cements its image as a Russian proxy, overshadowing any prospects for genuine dialogue or normalization with the West.