Would Belarus enter the war? Claims and denials, 25 March 2022
A look back at the statements on Belarus's role and the cautious talk of a ceasefire in the days around 25 March 2022.
Would Belarus send its troops into Ukraine? On 25 March 2022, Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko reaffirmed that his country had no plans to fight in Ukraine. He added a warning: Belarus could join the war if aggression were launched against it.
The statement followed a claim made a day earlier, on 24 March 2022, by Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba. He said Belarusian troops were not willing to fight alongside Russia in Ukraine.
Sanctions on Minsk
Also on 24 March 2022, Australia introduced sanctions against Lukashenko and his family for supporting the Russian invasion. The measures also covered 22 people described as Russian propagandists and disinformation operatives. They included managing editors of Russia Today, the Strategic Culture Foundation, InfoRos and NewsFront.
Talk of a ceasefire
On the diplomatic track, the head of the Ukrainian Presidential Administration, Andriy Yermak, said on 24 March 2022 that progress had been made in the ongoing talks between Russia and Ukraine. He expressed cautious optimism that a ceasefire could be reached to end the war.
Gas payments
The economic front was also moving. On 23 March 2022, Russian President Vladimir Putin demanded that countries he deemed unfriendly pay for deliveries of natural gas in roubles.
Taken together, the reports from 23 to 25 March 2022 show a war being fought alongside questions over Belarus's role, new sanctions, negotiations and energy payments.
