'Russian Ally' Belarus Increases Border Troops... "Ukraine's Destruction if Conflict Escalates"

Lukashenko "If NATO Sends Troops, World War III Could Break Out"

Alexander Lukashenko, President of Belarus, announced on the 18th (local time) that one-third of the military forces have been deployed to the border area. The reinforcement of Belarusian border troops, a traditional ally of Russia, is interpreted as a move to respond to Ukraine's attacks on Russian mainland.

According to Belarusian state news agency BelTA, President Lukashenko said in an interview with Russian state broadcaster Rossiya on the same day that Ukraine has deployed more than 120,000 troops to the Belarusian border, and "Belarus has responded by deploying nearly one-third of its military forces along the entire border."

Russian President Vladimir Putin (right) and Belarusian President Aleksandr Lukashenko held talks and shook hands on September 15 last year (local time) in Sochi, southern Russia.
[Image source=Yonhap News]

He stated, "Of course, President Putin will destroy the Ukrainian forces in Kursk," and claimed, "The escalation of conflict, such as the attack on Kursk, could end in Ukraine's destruction."

President Lukashenko also anticipated that the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) would openly send troops to Ukraine. He warned that this could lead to a Third World War.

He also boasted that the Iskander missile system in Belarus is ready to launch missiles equipped with nuclear warheads.

However, he said, "If Russia or we use tactical nuclear weapons in Ukraine, I am confident that Ukraine would be very pleased," adding, "(If nuclear weapons are used) probably we will have almost no allies left, and no countries will sympathize with us."