Conventional defense of Belarus impossible as Russia stripped it of weapons, Ukrainian diplomat says

"From the point of view of its coordinates in this war, Belarus is like the territory of Crimea," Bezsmertnyi said. "If Ukraine strikes legitimate military targets, even the Russian forces now in Belarus will flee from there very quickly."

He added that talk of tactical nuclear weapons and other systems remains just talk, and that Moscow has stripped Belarus bare, removing everything from ammunition to armored vehicles.

According to Bezsmertnyi, both Belarusian leader Alexander Lukashenko and Russian President Vladimir Putin fear the establishment of fire control over Belarus.

Lukashenko's apology and Zelenskyy's ultimatum to Belarus

On May 12, Lukashenko announced plans for targeted conscription of certain military units in preparation for possible combat operations. In response, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on May 15 ordered Ukraine's Defense Forces and security agencies to prepare a response plan to threats from Belarus. By May 21, Ukraine’s SBU Security Service and the military had introduced enhanced security measures in five northern regions of Ukraine.

After that, Lukashenko again assured that Belarus would not get involved in the war and expressed readiness to meet with Zelenskyy at any location.

On June 16, Lukashenko said Ukraine should not expect military actions from Belarus and apologized to Zelenskyy for harsh statements directed at him.

On June 19, Zelenskyy gave Lukashenko seven days to dismantle relay stations in Belarus used to guide Russian drones, warning, "If he does not do it, we will."

On June 24, Zelenskyy said the relay stations had stopped operating as of June 22, though it was still unclear whether Lukashenko's regime had actually dismantled the equipment.

On June 25, following a report from Ukraine's Foreign Intelligence Service, Zelenskyy stated that Belarus is completing construction of road infrastructure and facilities for storing ammunition and fuel along the border with Ukraine.

"Belarus knows what steps it needs to take on its part to achieve peace," the Ukrainian president said. “The development of border infrastructure for aggression from the side of Belarus must be stopped.”