WASHINGTON DC (VG) Ukrainian authorities claim that Belarus can enter Ukraine militarily on Russia’s side in a very short time. The pretext is to be Russian airstrikes on Belarusian villages, according to the Ukrainians.
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The Ukrainian military on Friday accused Russian planes of firing on Belarusian border villages from Ukrainian airspace, writes the news agency Reuters.
Ukraine claims that Russia is trying to drag Belarus into the conflict militarily – by blaming the Ukrainians and giving the Belarusians a pretext for attacking.
«This is a PROVOCATION! The goal is to involve the Armed Forces of the Republic of Belarus in the war with Ukraine!»the Ukrainian Air Force wrote in a statement Friday.
At a press conference on Friday night Norwegian time, the Ukrainians’ close supporter, the United States, says that they do not have their own confirmations of such an air attack or an imminent invasion.
–– We can not confirm this. We have seen what is written about this openly, but have nothing ourselves to support it, says Pentagon spokesman John Kirby.
Russia has not responded to Reuters’ inquiries.
The head of the National Security Council of Ukraine, Oleksiy Danilov, says they will fight back if Belarusian soldiers cross the border.
The United States says it also has no evidence that Belarusian forces are now inside Ukraine.
– It does not mean that it can not happen, will happen or that they can get involved in a way that we may not see. All I can say is what we are seeing right now, says Kirby.
The Pentagon’s spokesman adds that new tones have arrived from Ukraine’s neighbors over the past week, pointing to Belarus’ President Alexander Lukashenko’s own statements.
– We have noticed that the President of Belarus stated a few days ago in state media, that it was important for him that Belarusian forces should defend the rear of Russian forces if they were attacked. The supply line, if you will, says Kirby.
– This is the first time he has said anything about Belarus being involved. But as I said, we have no indication now that they have done it or that it is up to them.
–Tougher sanctions
The US government has been lately under press domestic policy to do more for the Ukrainians.
On Friday, US President Joe Biden announced that Russia will lose its status as a so-called preferred trading partner. This allows for stronger customs protection against goods from the country.
He announced that he would ban the import of several Russian goods, including vodka, diamonds, caviar and other seafood
He also said that Russia would pay a high price if they use chemical weapons, before rushing by helicopter to a Democratic rally in Philadelphia.
The US Congress has taken a weekend off, but a number of debates related to Ukraine have been scheduled for this week.
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