Russia is Pressuring Belarus to Join the War Against Ukraine — WSJ
As Moscow's battlefield prospects worsen, the Kremlin is seeking to force its closest ally to abandon its role as a sidelines observer. The Wall Street Journal reports this, citing current and former Russian and European officials.
Photo: Maxim Shipenkov Pool Photo via AP
Russia is increasing pressure on Belarus, seeking to expand military cooperation and potentially use Belarusian territory to open a new front in the war against Ukraine. The publication reports this, citing former and current Russian and European officials.
According to the WSJ, Moscow views Belarus as a springboard not only for actions against Ukraine but also for possible operations against NATO countries.
According to the publication, amid the difficulties of the Russian army in Ukraine and the weakening of internal support for Vladimir Putin, the Kremlin may consider a risky escalation as an option. The authors link Belarus's particular importance in this context to the fact that Russian tactical nuclear weapons are already deployed on its territory.
The article notes that Belarus, after 2022, has largely remained outside direct involvement in the war, although its territory was used by Russia during the invasion of Ukraine.
Over the past year, the United States has tried to weaken Minsk's dependence on Moscow through contacts with Belarusian authorities and a partial easing of sanctions, including those concerning Belarusian potash. After negotiations with American representatives, Alexander Lukashenka released about 500 political prisoners.
At the same time, Belarus is already providing significant support to Russia. This includes supplies of gasoline and other oil products amid fuel shortages in Russia following Ukrainian strikes on its oil infrastructure.
In addition, Moscow uses ground drone control stations on Belarusian territory to guide drones.
Also, according to the publication, there are currently about 2,000 Russian servicemen in Belarus.
The article emphasizes that further support for Russia could make Belarus a target for Ukrainian strikes, similar to those Kyiv inflicts on logistics and industrial infrastructure deep within Russian territory.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has already warned Lukashenka that if the Belarusian side does not dismantle the stations, Ukraine will destroy them itself.
At the same time, the publication writes, Russia continues to insist on using Belarusian territory for drone launches and to divert Ukrainian forces from eastern sectors.
A former Russian intelligence officer stated that Moscow is allegedly pressuring Minsk by threatening to limit financial support to Belarus.
The authors of the material note that there are currently no signs of immediate preparations for a military operation from Belarusian territory. However, the possibility itself, according to sources, is already being considered. Moreover, this could involve not only a conventional military offensive but also actions aimed at testing NATO countries' defenses.