Belarus Diplomat Rejects Possibility of Joining Russia in Ukraine War

The foreign minister of Belarus, Sergei Aleinik, stated that he cannot envision his country entering the war in Ukraine alongside Russian forces, emphasizing that the recently deployed tactical nuclear weapons in Belarus are primarily for defense. While Belarus has a strategic partnership with Russia, Aleinik stated that if Belarus was invaded, he would not exclude any instruments to defend the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the country. He also highlighted Belarus' efforts to build economic and trade relations with countries interested in its agricultural products, criticizing Lithuania for blocking transit of Belarusian fertilizers. Aleinik denied the existence of political prisoners in Belarus and expressed Belarus' commitment to pursuing peace efforts in Ukraine.