President Alexander Lukashenko on Thursday warned that if his nation comes beneath menace or assault, the Belarusian military is able to battle alongside its Russian ally.

“I’m able to battle with the Russians from the territory of Belarus in just one case: If even one soldier comes onto the territory of Belarus to kill my individuals,” he instructed a information convention, in line with state-run Belta information company.

“In the event that they commit aggression in opposition to Belarus, the response would be the most extreme, and the battle will tackle a very totally different nature,” he added.

Already Belarus is beneath US and EU sanctions for the position it is performed so far in aiding the Russian invasion, significantly because it served as a launching pad for Russian troops forward of the preliminary invasion.

Ukrainian officers have for months now warned that Belarus is getting ready to formally be a part of the battle, and have alleged that Belarus is permitting Russian drones to be launched from its territory, which have pummeled Ukraine’s nationwide power infrastructure and terrorized cities.

However nonetheless, Lukashenko appeared to emphasize in his contemporary remarks that Belarus will be a part of the assault on Ukraine “solely” if attacked first. “This is applicable to our different neighbors,” Lukashenko mentioned. “In the event that they commit an aggression in opposition to Belarus, our response would be the most merciless. Probably the most merciless!”

He mentioned that for now, “I don’t plan to ship my individuals, my troopers (there)” to Ukraine. In line with Moscow Instances, “Belarus nonetheless hosts an undeclared variety of Russian troops however Lukashenko has promised to not ship his forces — estimated at between 60,000 and 70,000 — over the southern border to Ukraine.”

In the meantime, the Kremlin has introduced that Putin and Lukashenko will engaged in talks in regards to the ongoing strategic partnership between the 2 allies, together with additional integration throughout the ‘Union State’, anticipated for Friday.