"Belarus Likely to Deploy Troops to Ukraine to Support Russia"... Also Abandoning Non-Nuclear State Status

[Image source=Reuters Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Hyunwoo Lee] As Belarus, an ally of Russia, is reportedly planning to deploy troops to Ukraine to assist the Russian military, attention is focused on how this will affect the dynamics of the war. Previously, Belarus allowed the Russian forces invading Ukraine to be stationed on its territory and even gave up its non-nuclear state status, raising the possibility of Russia deploying nuclear weapons there.

On the 27th (local time), The Washington Post (WP), citing a senior U.S. administration official, reported that "Belarus is preparing to deploy troops to Ukraine to support Russia's invasion of Ukraine." The official stated, "It is very clear now that Minsk (the capital of Belarus) is an extension of the Kremlin," and WP reported that "Belarusian troop deployment could begin as early as the 28th."

Belarus also announced a decision to give up its non-nuclear state status. The Belarusian government drafted a constitutional amendment allowing the possession of nuclear weapons and submitted it to a national referendum the day before. The amendment passed with a voter turnout of 78.63% and 65.16% approval. As a result, Belarus can officially host Russian nuclear weapons, and it is also seen as opening the door for permanent stationing of Russian troops. Previously, in 1994, shortly after the dissolution of the former Soviet Union in 1991, Belarus returned the nuclear weapons remaining on its soil and included a clause in its constitution banning the introduction of nuclear weapons.

This move is interpreted as largely reflecting the intentions of Belarusian dictator Alexander Lukashenko, known as a close ally of Russian President Vladimir Putin. Prior to Russia's invasion of Ukraine, Lukashenko, at the request of the Russian government, conducted joint military exercises in the Belarus-Ukraine border area.

This measure is also expected to negatively impact the talks scheduled for the 28th between Russian and Ukrainian delegations. The delegations announced that they will hold unconditional talks near the Pripyat River on the Belarus border.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.