Ukraine threatens Belarus with missile strikes
While Kiev is threatening to launch a strike against Belarus, the US administration sees no signs of Belarusian troops entering Ukraine.
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The US administration confirmed that there are no signs of Belarusian troops entering Ukraine.
Oleksiy Danilov, the secretary of the National Security and Defense Council (NSDC) of Ukraine, pointed out Tuesday that Kiev may launch strikes against Belarus if deemed necessary.
"If necessary, if the decision of the Supreme Commander-in-Chief to do this is made, it will be done," Danilov said in an interview for Rada TV channel when asked why Ukraine had not launched a preventive strike on Belarus, from where missiles were allegedly flying in the direction of Kiev.
US: No signs Belarusian troops entering Ukraine
Earlier, a senior Pentagon official confirmed that the US administration sees no signs that Belarusian troops are entering Ukraine,
"There is no indication that Belarusian troops are entering Ukraine," the official underscored.
No Belarusian troops withdrawn from permanent deployment places
For his part, Belarussian President Alexander Lukashenko affirmed that "not a single part of Belarusian armed forces has been withdrawn from their places of permanent deployment so far."
However, the Belarussian President assured that his country is "ready for full wartime deployment of necessary military units in 2-3 days" if necessary.
Lukashenko asks Putin for additional S-400 system for protection
In the same context, Lukashenko said he asked Russian President Vladimir Putin to supply Belarus with an additional S-400 air defense system to be stationed west of Minsk to protect the country's territory.
"We have not had enough military equipment. We will have enough personnel, equipment. I turned to Putin so that, in addition to the S-400, which is located in the Gomel region, we should be supplied with the S-400, which will be located a little west of Minsk, in order to cover not only Minsk," Belta quoted Lukashenko as saying.
According to the Belarussian President, Minsk is currently waiting for the Russian deliveries.
Lukashenko: 'Very powerful forces' try to disrupt ceasefire talks
Lukashenko also confirmed on Tuesday that "very powerful forces" are trying to undermine the negotiation process between Moscow and Kiev.
The delegations of Russia and Ukraine met for talks in Belarus on Monday. Volodymyr Zelenskyy's office said that "the key issue of the negotiations is an immediate ceasefire and the withdrawal of troops from the territory of Ukraine." After the talks, the parties agreed to hold a new round on the Belarusian-Polish border within the next few days after consultations with the country's leaderships.
"Very powerful forces want to disrupt this process. And I pray to god that Zelenskyy and his team hold out and do not slide into the breakdown of the negotiation process," Lukashenko said, as quoted by the state-run Belta news agency.
