Moscow: – Belarus accused Ukraine of violating its airspace. Belarus summoned a military official from the Ukrainian embassy asking, ‘Doesn’t Ukraine wish to resolve the border dispute through discussions?’ Belarus, meanwhile, has been accused of taking an aggressive stance against Ukraine based on the military aid from Russia. A few weeks ago, Ukrainian leaders warned that Ukraine-Belarus may break out if Belarus continued aggression.
Russia has deployed large troops along Ukraine’s northern and eastern borders. Ukrainian President Zelensky has accused a deployment of nearly 200,000 Russian troops, tanks, and anti-missile systems near Ukraine’s Lugansk and Donetsk provinces. Against this background, the Ukrainian army has organised military exercises near its border. On Saturday, Belarus accused Ukrainian helicopters of infiltrating its airspace for about a kilometre during the training.
On Sunday, Belarus’s Defence Ministry issued a summons to a military official at the Ukrainian embassy in Minsk’s capital. It was alleged in the summon that the Ukrainian helicopter violated Belarus’s airspace. ‘It is a matter of grave concern that Ukraine does not want to settle its border dispute under international law. In a statement, Belarus’s southern border is under threat from Ukraine.’ the Belarussian defence ministry said.
Ukraine’s Foreign Ministry has denied allegations made by Belarus of violating airspace. Earlier, border disputes had erupted between Belarus and Ukraine. But current warnings by Belarus are being taken seriously in the wake of recent developments near the Ukrainian border.
Since last August, Belarus began protesting against President Lukashenko. The United States and European countries imposed sanctions on Belarus over actions against the protests. Last week, the United States and the European Union announced new sanctions against Belarus. Russia, which supports Belarus, criticised the sanctions.
Russia has provided trade and military assistance to Belarus to help it break the shackles of Western sanctions. Ukrainian and NATO military officials have expressed fears that, in return, Russia has increased its military presence in Belarus, and soon, Russian missile systems will be deployed in Belarus. It is claimed that Belarus is adopting this aggressive stand based on the military backing from Russia.
Ukraine has accused Belarussian President Lukashenko of making ‘deals’ with Russian President Vladimir Putin to maintain his rule. Ukraine’s ruling party had warned a few weeks ago that Belarus could launch an attack on Ukraine with Russian help. Ukrainian leaders have warned that a full-fledged war could break out between Ukraine and Belarus in that event.
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