France warns Lukashenko as Belarus stokes fears on Ukraine’s northern border

The sources said Macron urged Lukashenko to refrain from any steps that could lead to Belarus taking part in Russian military operations in Ukraine.

Lukashenko’s press service said on May 24 that he had held a phone call with Macron “at the initiative of the French side.”

Ukraine’s SBU Security Service and Defense Forces said on May 21 that they had introduced enhanced security measures in five northern regions bordering Russia and Belarus.

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said on May 15 that he had instructed the SBU to prepare a response plan for threats from Belarus. Zelenskyy specifically mentioned strengthening the Chernihiv-Kyiv sector.

Self-proclaimed Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko said on May 12 that he planned a limited mobilization of specific military units to “prepare for possible combat operations.” He also claimed Belarus was “committed to peace.”