War could flare up between Ukraine and Belarus, warns Ukrainian lawmaker

Moscow: – Lawmakers from the Ukrainian ruling party have warned that a war may flare up between Ukraine and Belarus. Yegor Chernev claimed that the Belarusian dictator, Alexander Lukashenko, has promised Russia in this regard. Russia cannot directly attack Ukraine. Chernev accused that, therefore, Russian President Vladimir Putin chose this option. Last month, an article published by Atlantic Council, a US think tank, pointed to the growing Belarusian threat for Ukraine.

An agitation has been going on against President Lukashenko, in Belarus, since last August. The western countries have imposed sanctions against Lukashenko because of the actions taken against the agitation. The Belarusian President has taken Russian help to wriggle out of the sanctions. Russian President Putin has signed military as well as trade agreements with Belarus. In exchange, the deployment of the Russian forces has been increased in Belarus, and there are indications of a Russian missile system being deployed in Belarus shortly.

On the strength of the aid received from Russia, Lukashenko has adopted an aggressive stand against Ukraine. A few months ago, Lukashenko decided to close the border with Ukraine. The Belarusian President accused that terrorists and weapon hauls are being pushed into the country from Ukraine. He also claimed that Ukraine is imparting training to the rebels to fight against his government.

Following that, indications have been received that the advanced Russian air defence system, S-400, will be deployed near the Ukrainian border. This sequence of events has led to increasing tension between Belarus and Ukraine. The Ukrainian lawmaker warned that this tension could culminate into a full-scale war. Yegor Chernev also accused that Lukashenko has reached a deal with Russia to attack Ukraine to save his government. Russia will not take the risk of a direct attack on Ukraine. Chernev also said that there is a dense possibility that the attack will be routed through Belarus. He also claimed that Belarus does not have fighter jets and missiles, and without them, a conflict with Ukraine is not possible.

Over the last few months, the tension between Russia and Ukraine has been seen to be escalating. The main reasons for this escalating tension are the Ukrainian moves to acquire a NATO membership, the Russian fuel pipeline, increasing military exercises and the skirmishes in eastern Ukraine. Only a few days ago, Dmitry Peskov, the Press Secretary of Russian President Vladimir Putin, had warned that the open expressions of interest by Ukraine to become a NATO member is a direct threat to Russian security.