May 15 (Reuters) – Russia is seeking to draw Belarus deeper into Ukraine’s war and is considering plans to attack northern Ukraine or NATO countries from Belarusian territory, President Volodymyr Zelensky said on Friday.
“We continue to document Russia’s attempts to draw Belarus deeper into the war against Ukraine,” Zelensky said on the Telegram messaging app after meeting with military and intelligence officials.
He said Ukraine was aware of additional contacts between Russia and Belarusian President Lukashenko in an effort to persuade him to join “Russia’s new aggressive campaign.”
“Russia is considering plans for operations to the south and north of Belarusian territory – either against Ukraine in the Chernigov-Kiev direction, or directly from Belarusian territory against one of the NATO countries,” he said, without providing any further details.
Belarus borders Ukraine to the south and NATO members Poland, Lithuania and Latvia to the north and west.
There was no immediate response from Moscow or Minsk to Zelensky’s comments. Moscow has not disclosed its military plans in Ukraine, which are classified as state secrets.
Lukashenko, one of Russian President Vladimir Putin’s closest allies, allowed Russia to use its territory as part of its February 2022 invasion of its smaller neighbor, although he has yet to send Belarusian troops to fight there.
Minsk has since agreed to deploy Russian tactical nuclear weapons and hypersonic Oreshnik missiles on its territory.
Zelensky said last month that Ukraine had intelligence that showed Russia was making preparations, suggesting it would once again try to draw Belarus into its more than four-year-old war.
“If Alexander Lukashenko makes the wrong decision and decides to support this Russian intention, Ukraine will undoubtedly defend itself and its people,” he said.
Zelensky said he had instructed the Ukrainian Defense Forces to develop a response plan and strengthen defenses in Chernigov and northern Kiev.
(Reporting by Anna Pluchnica; Editing by Kevin Liffey)