Lukashenko hopes to slip free of Putin’s grasp and avoid war, Ukrainian MP says

“Putin is pressing Belarus like never before,” Kostenko said.

“Now he understands that it’s very hard for him; we are inflicting serious losses on him both inside the country and on the battlefield. He is trying to draw Belarus in. He needs that for many reasons, including to implicate the Belarusian regime even more physically in this war, and that regime is already hostile to us.”

“We know Putin is pressing Lukashenko with all his might, and Lukashenko is trying, like a snake, to slither out from under that pressure and avoid entering the war. That is what our intelligence suggests.”

Kostenko said Russia’s goal is to involve Belarus more directly in the conflict, but that Lukashenko understands the risks because the Belarusian armed forces lack combat experience.

“If our drones and missiles can now reach Moscow, Belarus is much closer, and he understands Ukraine’s response would be very harsh,” Kostenko said. He added that Belarus has sought to show restraint while participating in joint nuclear drills with Russia and taking other measures that give the appearance of preparation without fully mobilizing for war.

Kostenko summed up that the Belarusian regime is an enemy of Ukraine and an ally of Russia, and warned that Belarus could be drawn into the war in ways different from what has been seen so far.