According to the state-run Belta news agency, Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko has stated that Belarus and Russia will deploy a joint military task force in response to what he described an escalation of tension on the country's western frontiers.
Lukashenko stated on Monday that the two nations had begun coordinating their efforts two days prior, possibly in response to the 2014 Russian annexation of the Crimean Peninsula bridge explosion.
The declaration came as Russian missiles for the first time in months slammed various cities in Ukraine, including the capital, Kiev.
“I’ve said already that today Ukraine is not just discussing but planning strikes on the territory of Belarus,” state news agency Belta quoted Lukashenko as saying during a meeting with security officials. He did not provide any evidence for the claim.
“We have agreed to deploy a regional grouping of the Russian Federation and the Republic of Belarus,” he added.
Lukashenko did not specify where the troops would be deployed.
The president said Belarus “must have plans in advance to counter all kinds of scoundrels who are trying to drag us into a fight”.
“There should be no war on the territory of Belarus,” he added.
Belarus relies financially and politically on its key ally Russia.
Russian forces used Belarus as a staging post for their February 24 invasion of Ukraine, sending troops and equipment into northern Ukraine from bases in Belarus.