Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko has expressed concern that the United States' support for Ukraine could provoke Russia into using nuclear weapons.
During a visit to a military facility in the Brest region, Lukashenko shared his views on the escalating tensions between Russia and Ukraine.
According to CNN via Yahoo News, Lukashenko stated that the U.S. arming of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky's forces, including the provision of long-range missiles, could push Russia to a breaking point.
He emphasized that if a missile were to hit Russian soil, the retaliation from Moscow would be immense. "One such attack deep into Russian territory, and the response will be colossal," Lukashenko said.
The Belarusian leader's comments come on the heels of Russian President Vladimir Putin's recent remarks about the possibility of revoking a treaty that bans nuclear tests.
Following Putin's statement, Vyacheslav Volodin, the Speaker of the Russian State Duma, announced that discussions about withdrawing from the Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty would take place at the council's next meeting.
Lukashenko also touched upon the wavering U.S. Congressional aid for Ukraine, interpreting it as a signal for Ukraine to intensify its counteroffensive efforts. He criticized the pace of Ukraine's counteroffensive, stating that it had been unsuccessful and that "only old men are taking part in the combat."
In Lukashenko's opinion, the U.S. is encouraging Ukraine to hasten its military actions for political reasons. He speculated that a Ukrainian victory could serve as a much-needed boost for U.S. President Joe Biden's declining approval ratings. "He (Biden) is already losing according to all the polls. He needs some kind of victory," Lukashenko concluded.
The Belarusian President argued that the U.S. feels secure in its actions, as it is geographically removed from the conflict. "Americans don’t fear for their safety because they are across the ocean," he added.
