Ukrainian gains near Kyiv threaten to cut off Russian units 

The US and NATO consider that Belarus may “quickly” be a part of Russia in its battle in opposition to Ukraine, US and NATO officers inform CNN, and that the nation is already taking steps to take action. 

It’s more and more “possible” that Belarus will enter the battle, a NATO navy official mentioned on Monday. 

“Putin wants help. Something would assist,” the official defined. 

A Belarusian opposition supply mentioned that Belarusian fight items are prepared to enter Ukraine as quickly as the subsequent few days, with 1000’s of forces ready to deploy. On this supply’s view, this may have much less of an affect militarily than it can geopolitically, given the implications of one other nation becoming a member of the battle.

A senior NATO intelligence official mentioned individually the alliance assesses that the Belarusian authorities “is making ready the setting to justify a Belarusian offensive in opposition to Ukraine.”

Belarusians voted final month to permit the nation to host each Russian forces and nuclear weapons completely, although US officers have emphasised to CNN that they haven’t but seen any proof of Russia transferring nuclear weapons or making ready to.  

The sources emphasised that there have been no indications to this point that Belarus is presently taking part within the combating in Ukraine, and a senior US protection official mentioned the Pentagon had not seen “any indications that the Belarusians are making ready to maneuver … into Ukraine or that they’ve made any agreements to do this.”

The NATO navy official mentioned {that a} last choice for Belarus’ involvement within the battle nonetheless needs to be made in Moscow, and as of but, there was no indication that Belarusian forces are taking part within the combating in Ukraine.

“It’s not about what [Alexander] Lukashenko needs,” the official defined, referring to the Belarusian president. “The query is: Does Putin need one other unstable nation within the area?” 

The official would not elaborate on how Belarus may intervene within the battle, however mentioned it made sense for Russia to attempt to reduce off NATO navy help coming into Ukraine from its Western border.

Extra background: Russia has been utilizing Belarus as a springboard for a lot of of its air operations in Ukraine, in accordance with intelligence collected by NATO surveillance planes flying over the Polish-Ukrainian border and radar seen by CNN.

CNN’s Barbara Starr contributed reporting to this submit.