"Clear preparations for military escalation are evident in Belarus," says Kuleba
Former Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba warned of a significant increase in the military threat posed by the Republic of Belarus.
According to him, the Kremlin continues to use the territory of the neighboring state as a strategic tool to escalate aggression against the Ukrainian people.
The diplomat recalled the events of 2022, when Minsk served as a springboard for the Russian offensive on Kyiv.
Although Belarusian officials at the time justified their inaction in private conversations by citing their powerlessness against Moscow, the situation today is taking on far more threatening signs.
“So, basically, conclusion number one: Russia views Belarus as a second front that it would like to open against Ukraine,” Kuleba noted.
He emphasized that preparations for a possible entry of the Belarusian army into the war have reached a qualitatively new level.
The main cause for concern is the ongoing military exercises, which have been taking place for five years under the supervision of Russian instructors.
In addition, the Belarusian leadership has shifted its focus to full mobilization readiness not only of the army but also of the entire civilian sector of the country.
Dmytro Kuleba also drew attention to the reinforcement of Belarusian forces with Russian air defense systems and large-scale command exercises.
“I am confident that the Russians are helping to prepare Belarus very seriously,” the former official added, analyzing the close cooperation between the two armies.
Despite signs of preparations, the former minister believes that an immediate offensive is currently unlikely due to the stance of Belarus’s self-proclaimed president.
The diplomat describes Alexander Lukashenko as a rather cautious player who is aware of the catastrophic consequences of directly entering the conflict.
The Belarusian Ministry of Finance has released the parameters of the 2026 budget, which indicate a critical deterioration in the country’s economic condition.
As a reminder, in the western regions of Belarus, men are receiving draft notices en masse, allegedly for unscheduled military drills. This has caused a significant outcry on social media, as even parents with many children are being called up for training.
