Russia Pumps up Pressure on Belarus to Open New Front in Ukraine War, Eyes Anti-NATO Ops.
The Wall Street Journal said Moscow wants Belarus to help launch drones, shift Ukrainian forces, and support operations near NATO borders.
- On June 24, The Wall Street Journal reported that the Kremlin has intensified pressure on Belarusian leader Alexander Lukashenko since early 2026 to expand Minsk's role in Russia's war effort amid slower battlefield gains in the east.
- Moscow leverages Belarus's economic dependence through financial support and subsidies to influence the Belarusian government. Russia seeks to use Belarusian territory for drone strikes, hybrid operations, and to force Kyiv to divert military resources from the east.
- Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy recently warned Belarus to remove infrastructure allegedly supporting Russian drone operations, stating that Ukraine would act independently if facilities remained. Kyiv believes these relay stations facilitate Russian long-range drone attacks.
- Belarusian propagandist Grigory Azarenok advised Zelensky to "sober up" following the ultimatum, while Belarus's military maintained a conciliatory stance, reiterating promises to avoid direct conflict involvement. Lukashenko has yet to publicly comment.
- Lukashenko announced an upcoming meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin to discuss the ultimatum and a planned "extended trip" abroad. While experts see no immediate signs of Belarus entering the war, the possibility remains as Russia faces battlefield challenges.
34 Articles
34 Articles
Russia Is Reportedly Threatening to Cut Off Belarus Unless It Joins the War — but Moscow Now Quietly Needs Belarus to Survive
The Kremlin has officially denied a Wall Street Journal article claiming that Russian President Vladimir Putin was pressuring Belarus to engage in hostilities with Ukraine, and in the process support an “expansion” of the former KGB Lt. Col.’s war against his neighbor. Such a move would see Belarus join as an active combatant, which the country’s self-declared President Aleksandr Lukashenko has thus far avoided. Putin Speaking at Railway Confer…
Russia Denies Pressuring Belarus to Broaden Ukraine War
Russia, on June 25, denied putting pressure on its ally Belarus to support an expansion of the war in Ukraine. The denial came in response to a June 24 report by The Wall Street Journal claiming that Moscow wanted to use its neighbor as a springboard to step up attacks on Kyiv, and that the Kremlin was threatening to cut financial support to Minsk if it did not agree. When asked about the report during a press briefing on Thursday, Kremlin spoke…
Russia denies pressuring Belarus to widen Ukraine conflict; Minsk blames West
The Wall Street Journal reported that Russia wanted to use Belarus as a springboard to step up attacks on Ukraine, and that Moscow was threatening to cut financial support if it did not agree
Russia denies pressuring Belarus to widen Ukraine conflict
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said the report ‘does not correspond to reality’ and that Belarus was ‘our closest ally’. (EPA Images pic) MOSCOW: The Kremlin on Thursday denied a Wall Street Journal report that it is pressuring Belarus to support an expansion of Russia’s war in Ukraine. The WSJ reported on Wednesday that Russia wanted to use Belarus as a springboard to step up attacks on Ukraine and that Moscow was threatening to cut financial …
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