Belarus on the verge of sending soldiers into Ukraine to support Russia

Mass protests in Minsk over return of nuclear weapons; Zelenskyy chides Belarusians for killing Ukranian children

Belarus is preparing to send soldiers into Ukraine in support of the Russian invasion as soon as Monday, a U.S. official said, in a move that increases tensions. “It’s very clear Minsk is now an extension of the Kremlin,” said the U.S. administration official, who spoke to the Washington Post on the condition of anonymity to discuss a sensitive security development.

U.S. officials on Monday warned Belarus will also face consequences for its role in aiding Russia with the Ukraine attack as Washington and its allies escalated severe economic sanctions on Moscow. The EU also warned it would impose new sanctions on Belarus this week.

On Sunday, President Alexander Lukashenko said he could ask Russia to return nuclear weapons to Belarus.

“If you (the West) transfer nuclear weapons to Poland or Lithuania, to our borders, then I will turn to Putin to return the nuclear weapons that I gave away without any conditions,” Lukashenko said.

The United States closed its embassy in the Belarusian capital, Minsk, and allowed non-emergency employees and family members to leave its embassy in Moscow on Monday.

“We took these steps due to security and safety issues stemming from the unprovoked and unjustified attack by Russian military forces in Ukraine,” Secretary of State Antony Blinken said.

U.S ambassador to Belarus Julie Fisher on Monday showed mission staff lowering the American flag.