He has also said he wants to obtain Russian Iskander missile systems that could deliver strikes against countries in Europe. Lukashenko also said that he would be ready to host Russian nuclear weapons “in order to defend our territory”. But Putin did say that the “active phase of will last in Belarus until 20 February,” perhaps indicating that a withdrawal would not take place immediately. The two men did not address questions of whether the troops would leave after 19 February. I emphasise once again: this is our territory and this decision is up to us.” But in contradictory remarks, Lukashenko on Thursday said: “If it makes sense to keep Russian troops here, we will keep them as long as necessary. Russian officials have pledged that the troops will leave Belarus after the exercises conclude. The Russian-backed separatist states in east Ukraine on Friday announced a mass evacuation, stoking fears that Moscow is seeking a pretext to launch an intervention. Satellite imagery has shown Russian armour and artillery within miles of the Belarus border with Ukraine, and western officials have pointed out unusual military activity such as the construction of a pontoon bridge over the Pripyat river in the Chernobyl exclusion zone.
Another option is that Russia could leave its troops in Belarus, creating a permanent threat on Ukraine’s border. Western officials have warned that the military drills in Belarus could be cover for preparations for an invasion of Ukraine and a possible attack on Kyiv. The Belarusian president, Alexander Lukashenko, visits the site of joint military exercises with Russia in the Mogilev region.
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