Russia might use Belarus to attack the Baltics, but Belarusians will not do it, Tsikhanouskaya says

“Ask your intelligence, what is Russia readying this summertime in Belarus?” Volodymyr Zelenskyy said successful Lithuania connected 2 June.

Addressing a group of nine NATO personnel countries in eastern and cardinal Europe, Ukraine’s president urged them to "bring much spot together" for nan imaginable Russian threat coming from nan territory of Belarus. 

Belarus guidance leader Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya told Euronews nan large-scale associated subject exercises betwixt Russia and Belarus taking spot successful nan autumn mightiness so airs a threat to NATO’s Eastern flank.

“Don't hide nan past subject drills successful Belarus ended pinch nan onslaught connected Ukraine”, she said, referring to nan upcoming Zapad 2021 manoeuvres.  

In autumn 2021, conscionable months earlier Moscow’s full-scale penetration of Ukraine, Moscow and Minsk held subject exercises successful Belarus, training, among different things, for battle operations successful densely populated areas pinch nan usage of Russian equipment. 

Back successful 2022 Russia utilized Belarus arsenic a launching pad for its attacks and full-scale penetration of Ukraine. But Moscow didn’t get nan group of Belarus to participate successful nan assault, says Tsikhanouskaya, adding that Belarusians will not spell against nan Baltic states. 

“They mightiness beryllium forced, but it doesn't mean that they will conflict there. I dream that group will for illustration to flight aliases alteration sides, but not conflict pinch nan Lithuanians aliases Poles, particularly knowing really overmuch these countries are supporting us”.

The Belarus guidance leader believes that this support is besides for her. Since fleeing Belarus successful 2020, she has been surviving successful Lithuania, wherever she is now proceeding nan concerns and worries astir whether her autochthonal state tin shape an onslaught connected nan state which welcomed her erstwhile she had to time off home. 

“It is simply a alternatively dire ambiance pinch each nan discussions complete imaginable attacks connected Lithuania, because Lithuania will beryllium nan first state connected nan measurement to nan European Union”, she admits, saying location are besides concerns complete whether NATO will guidelines up for Lithuania. 

“There are discussions of whether NATO will travel to rescue Lithuanias, will location beryllium capable time,” Tsikhanouskaya explains.

Tsikhanouskaya remains optimistic that NATO will measurement successful contempt nan caller reports of European officials being concerned that Washington mightiness moreover retreat US troops from nan Baltic states. 

“I really do judge successful NATO alliance, that pinch their unity and their powerfulness they will nonstop a very clear awesome to Putin ‘Don't dare’.”

She hopes a akin beardown awesome will beryllium sent to Aliaksandr Lukashenka of Belarus arsenic well, arsenic nan further militarisation of nan state is getting worse, Tsikhanouskaya says.

“People announcement really authorities is militarising our society. There are galore enterprises and factories now are moving for Russian military. We person each nan proofs really enterprises participate successful this warfare against Ukraine.”

Lukashenka forcefully militarises Belarusian society

Tsikhanouskaya told Euronews that Aliaksandr Lukashenka is besides forcing nan militarisation of Belarusian society.

“We spot really young group are very overmuch progressive into this militarisation successful schools, successful universities, wherever nan militarisation subjects are being taught," she explained.

She said that this way, Lukashenka’s authorities was trying to show nan organization that location is an outer force to merge against — a strategy besides utilized by Moscow. 

“They want to show we person outer enemies, personification wants to invade us, truthful they are saying they effort to hole nan federation for immoderate for immoderate imaginable threat successful nan future," Tsikhanouskaya pointed out.

But compared to nan akin militarisation strategy successful Russia, this won’t activity connected nan group of Belarus, Tsikhanouskaya said.

And though location is simply a complete knowing that Belarus mightiness beryllium utilized by Russia "with nan thief of Lukashenka for imaginable early attacks connected Ukraine aliases connected nan European Union," group will defy nan nonstop involvement. 

“I don't deliberation that nan aforesaid method will activity pinch nan Belarusian nation, because Belarusians really don't understand really it is to conflict against our neighbour and really to termination our neighbours," Tsikhanouskaya concluded.