In a recent interview, Belarusian President Aleksander Lukashenko, a close ally of Russian President Vladimir Putin, stated that there are “no red lines” regarding the use of nuclear weapons. If Belarus perceives a threat from an enemy crossing the border of the Union State, Lukashenko indicated that a response would be immediate.
During his appearance on the Rossiya TV channel, Lukashenko addressed the security of the Union State in light of escalating tensions surrounding the war in Ukraine, particularly as Russian forces face increased pressure following Ukrainian advances in the Kursk offensive.
This isn’t the first time Lukashenko has issued such a warning. Back in July, he also claimed that he had “no red lines” as tensions rose along the Ukraine-Belarus border. At that time, he reassured that clashes were not desired by Belarus or Ukraine, focusing instead on avoiding conflict.
Interestingly, during Thursday’s interview, he called for peace, arguing that the ongoing war was primarily perpetuated by “high-ranking people of American origin.” He urged for negotiations, stating that neither Russians, Ukrainians, nor Belarusians want the conflict to continue—only the West does.
Putin has previously laid out conditions for any peace talks with Ukraine, suggesting that Kyiv must abandon its NATO aspirations. The situation remains tense as Ukrainian forces make strategic gains in the Kursk region, which have yet to be officially acknowledged by Russia.