Putin demands that Belarus join war, while Lukashenko keeps wiggling - Danilov

During today's visit to Minsk, the President of Russia, Vladimir Putin, pressured the self-proclaimed President of Belarus, Alexander Lukashenko, to deploy Belarusian troops in Ukraine. However, Lukashenko isn’t willing to take the step.

That’s according to Oleksiy Danilov, Secretary of the National Security and Defense Council, who commented on Putin’s visit for national television, Ukrinform reports.

"Putin demands Belarus’s direct intervention in the war with our country. As far as we understand, given the information that we have, neither Lukashenko nor his citizens are willing. But the Russians will now be doing everything possible and impossible to force Lukashenko to take part in this. We will see what decision will be made in the near future," Danilov emphasized.

He assured that Ukraine is preparing for any developments.

Danilov also recalled that on December 18, another meeting of the Ukrainian President’s War Staff was held where the issue of Belarus was on the agenda.

"We understand what’s happening, what we need to prepare for," he added.