Kuleba assessed the risk of Belarus entering the war
Belarus is increasingly coming under pressure from Russia to become directly involved in the war against Ukraine, but its army is significantly inferior to Ukrainian forces. Diplomat Dmytro Kuleba believes that Lukashenko does not want to go to war, but the Kremlin is pressuring him, and the situation remains unpredictable.
Former Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba stated that despite the obvious weakness of the Belarusian army compared to the Armed Forces of Ukraine, Alexander Lukashenko’s statements cannot be ignored, as they may reflect real political processes and pressure from Russia.
According to him, Lukashenko has no desire to drag the country into war, but is under constant influence from the Kremlin, which is interested in expanding Belarus’s involvement in the conflict. Kuleba emphasized that this is not just rhetoric, but an element of political pressure that could have consequences. “We shouldn’t dismiss what Lukashenko says. And he constantly says that Belarus is preparing for war. When such things come from the mouth of a man like that, it’s not just some kind of bravado. There is pressure: he doesn’t want to fight, but Putin wants him to fight,” Kuleba said.
He added that the key questions in the event of a possible escalation remain the direction of a potential strike and the timing of when it might occur. At the same time, the diplomat suggested that the scenario of Belarus’s involvement in the war is not inevitable and could be thwarted if external or internal pressure on Lukashenko changes his position.
Kuleba also explained that for Vladimir Putin, involving Belarus is of strategic importance, as the situation on the front lines remains difficult for Russia, and the Kremlin does not currently view ending the war as an option.
Robert “Madyar” Brovdi, Commander of the Ukrainian Armed Forces’ Unmanned Systems Forces, stated that Ukraine is tracking every flight of Russian kamikaze drones through Belarusian territory. He addressed Alexander Lukashenko, emphasizing his responsibility for such attacks.
