If Belarus begins to show signs of preparing military aggression against Ukraine, “no one will wait,” according to Ivan Tymochko, head of the Council of Reservists of the Ukrainian Ground Forces.
He made the statement during an interview on Ukrainian Radio, Ukrinform reports.
"Geographically and climatically, Belarus is not the kind of country that can be used as a powerful staging ground for an offensive. For defense, yes, because it has very forested and swampy terrain. But it lacks strategic depth," Tymochko said.
He added that since the lifting of U.S. sanctions on Belarus, a flow of critically needed materials for Russia has entered the country, while "Putin understands that any escalation of hostilities from Belarusian territory against Ukraine or NATO countries would likely result in the closure of all possible channels and routes."
Tymochko stressed that the likelihood of Belarus being drawn into the war is therefore no more than "blackmail."
