US warns Belarus of ‘serious consequences’ if it continues to support Putin’s aggression against Ukraine

The US has warned Belarus that it will face “serious consequences” if President Alexander Lukashenko continues to back Russian President Vladimir Putin’s aggression against Ukraine.

“Belarus will face serious consequences if Lukashenko continues to support Putin’s aggression against Ukraine,” NEXTA TV quoted US State Department spokesman Ned Price as saying during a briefing.

When asked if the US believes Belarus is already involved in Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, Price clarified that “it is not for me to predict what Belarus would do or what Moscow might impose on Belarus to do.” Recalling Minsk’s participation in the peace talks between the Russian and Ukrainian delegations, the first round of which concluded yesterday (Monday, Feb 28), Price stated, “It has, as I said before, become increasingly subservient to Russia, demonstrating President Lukashenko’s willingness to act against the interests of his own people in order to curry favour with Moscow and stay in power.”

It is worth noting that Belarus is one of Moscow’s most powerful allies. In the midst of Russia’s escalating assault on Ukraine, Minsk has been hit with targeted sanctions after Moscow stationed troops in Belarus last month, claiming it was part of a joint military exercise. According to reports, however, massed troops invaded northern Ukraine, clearly demonstrating Minsk’s involvement in the conflict. Meanwhile, Belarus has been hit with harsh penalties, which the US has threatened to increase if Belarus continues to “curry favour” with Moscow.

The talks are taking place near the border with Russia’s staunch ally Belarus, where a referendum on Sunday approved a new constitution that repealed the country’s non-nuclear status, paving the way for Russian nuclear weapons to be stationed there.

According to The Kyiv Independent, 65.16 percent of Ukrainians voted in favour of the constitutional amendments. Belarus’s president, Alexander Lukashenko, has also greatly expanded his executive powers. Furthermore, multiple sources have stated that Belarus will soon join Russia’s war on Ukraine.