Headlines
Zelenskiy: Ukraine Believes Russia Will Try Again to Involve Belarus in the War
Published by Global Banking & Finance Review®
Posted on April 17, 2026
1 min readLast updated: April 17, 2026
Add as preferred source on GoogleQuick Summary
President Zelenskiy warned on April 17, 2026 that Ukraine’s intelligence shows Russia is preparing to involve Belarus again in its war, citing road works and artillery setups near the frontier; Kyiv has warned Minsk of Ukraine’s readiness to defend its sovereignty.
Zelenskiy: Russia May Try Again to Involve Belarus in War Against Ukraine
Ukraine Warns of Possible Belarusian Involvement in Conflict
Russian Preparations Near Belarusian Border
April 17 (Reuters) - President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said on Friday that Ukraine believed Russia was making preparations that showed that it would once again try to involve its ally Belarus into the four-year-old war pitting Kyiv against Moscow.
Intelligence Reports on Military Activity
"According to intelligence, road construction in areas leading to Ukraine and the establishment of artillery positions are going on in the Belarusian border area," Zelenskiy wrote on Telegram, referring to a report from Ukraine's top commander. "We believe that Russia will once again try to involve Belarus in its war."
Ukraine's Response and Diplomatic Measures
Zelenskiy said Ukraine had issued instructions to warn the Belarusian leadership of "Ukraine's readiness to defend its land and independence".
Reporting Credits
(Reporting by Ron Popeski and Oleksandr Kozhukhar)
Key Takeaways
- •Ukraine’s intelligence indicates Russian construction of roads and artillery positions in Belarus near the Ukrainian border, signaling possible renewed involvement in the conflict (Reuters, April 17, 2026)
- •In March 2026, Zelenskiy also raised alarm over Russia establishing control stations for long‑range attack drones in Belarus, underscoring sustained militarisation of Belarusian territory (The Guardian)
- •Belarus has deepened its military alignment with Russia—hosting missiles, joint drills and serving as a staging ground— prompting heightened concern from Ukraine and Western allies about escalation risks
Frequently Asked Questions about Zelenskiy: Ukraine believes Russia will try again to involve Belarus in the war
1What did President Zelenskiy report about Russia and Belarus?
President Zelenskiy said Russia appears to be preparing to once again try involving Belarus in the war against Ukraine.
2What evidence suggests Belarus might be drawn into the Ukraine war?
According to Ukrainian intelligence, there is road construction and establishment of artillery positions near the Belarusian border.
3How is Ukraine responding to the potential Belarus involvement?
Ukraine has instructed its leadership to warn Belarus about Ukraine's readiness to defend its land and independence.
4Who reported on Ukraine's concerns about Belarus and Russia?
The statement was reported by President Zelenskiy, with information from Ukraine's top commander and journalists Ron Popeski and Oleksandr Kozhukhar.
