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Russian President Vladimir Putin is increasing pressure on Belarusian leader Alexander Lukashenko to open a “second front” against Ukraine, according to a report by The Wall Street Journal, UATV English reports.
The report, citing U.S. and European officials, says the Kremlin has been pushing Minsk since the beginning of this year to take a more active role in Russia’s war against Ukraine.
According to the officials, Moscow has several objectives. Russia seeks to use Belarusian territory for regular drone launches against Ukrainian targets and to expand the front line toward western regions of Ukraine.
Such a move could also force Ukraine to divert military reserves from critical sectors in the east. In addition, Belarus could potentially be used to stage provocations against neighboring NATO member states, the report says.
The Kremlin reportedly has significant leverage over Lukashenko, with Belarus’ dependence on Russian financial support remaining one of Moscow’s main tools of influence.
Earlier, representatives of the Belarusian opposition warned that Lukashenko has been systematically preparing the country for the possibility of direct involvement in the war against Ukraine while turning Belarus into a military platform for Russia.
