Friday. 31.03.2023
WAR IN UKRAINE

Belarus troops not taking part in Russian operation, Lukashenko says

According to information from Minsk, Vladimir Putin and Lukashenko spoke on the phone early on Thursday

HANDOUT - 29 May 2021, Russia, Sochi: Russian President Vladimir Putin (R) speaks with Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko during their informal meeting in Sochi as they take a boat trip off the Black Sea coast. Photo: -/Kremlin/dpa - ATTENTION: editorial use only and only if the credit mentioned above is referenced in full
File photo of Russian President Vladimir Putin (R) with Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko during a meeting in Sochi. Photo: Kremlin.

Belarusian ruler Alexander Lukashenko says his soldiers are not taking part in the Russian invasion of neighbouring Ukraine.

"Our troops are not taking part in this operation," he said, according to the state news agency Belta.

According to information from Minsk, Russian President Vladimir Putin and Lukashenko spoke on the phone early on Thursday.

The two allies recently conducted a joint large-scale manoeuvre in Belarus, including in the south of the ex-Soviet republic on the border with Ukraine.

There had been fears, especially in the West, that Russia might also be planning an invasion of Ukraine from Belarus. The Kremlin had always denied this.

Belarus troops not taking part in Russian operation, Lukashenko says
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