Ukraine believes Russia will try again to involve Belarus in the war

April 17 (Reuters) – President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said on Friday that Ukraine believes Russia is making preparations that indicate it will once again try to involve its ally Belarus in a four-year war that pits Kiev against Moscow.

Zelenskiy made his remarks, published on the Telegram messaging app, in response to an intelligence report published by Ukraine’s top commander, Oleksandr Syrskyi.

Zelenskiy said, “According to intelligence, road construction in the regions leading to Ukraine and the establishment of artillery positions in the Belarusian border region are continuing.” he wrote.

“We believe that Russia will once again try to involve Belarus in its war.”

Zelenskiy said that ⁠Ukraine instructed the Belarusian leadership to warn that “Ukraine is ready to defend its territory and independence.”

He also said intelligence showed Russia was “most likely trying to regroup forces to compensate for personnel shortages.”

“In this context, it becomes clearer why the armed forces are increasing their activities on Belarusian territory.” He offered no further evidence.

Belarusian President Alexander ‌Lukashenko, one of Kremlin leader Vladimir Putin’s closest allies, allowed his territory to be used for part of Russia’s February 2022 invasion of its smaller neighbor.

Lukashenko, who has been in power since 1994, said he did not intend to send troops to the war in Ukraine.

But Belarus, which neighbors NATO members Poland, Lithuania and Latvia, has since agreed to deploy Russian tactical nuclear weapons and Russia’s hypersonic Oreshnik missiles.

Lukashenko has long been subject to Western sanctions over his support for the war in Ukraine and allegations of human rights violations.

But the United States is seeking to improve relations with Belarus and is working to secure the release of detainees considered political prisoners in the West; 250 people were released last month.

The United States said it had agreed to lift some sanctions but made clear to the Belarusian leadership that it should not facilitate other forms of sanctions evasion or support for the war in Ukraine.

(Reporting by Ron Popeski and Oleksandr Kozhukhar; editing by Edward Tobin)