New sanctions would keep Minsk from sending troops to Ukraine, opposition politician argues

January 3, BPN. Tighter Western sanctions against Belarus could stop Alaksandr Łukašenka from sending troops to Ukraine, said Pavieł Łatuška of the opposition’s transition cabinet in his January 2 video address, stressing that thinking the opposite is a mistake.

Łukašenka is trying to stave off Putin’s possible demand to send a small and unprepared Belarusian army to the slaughter by regularly supplying Russia with equipment, clothes, food and other supplies, the politician noted.

The balancing act may end, and Łukašenka would not be able to resist pressure from the Kremlin, Łatuška noted.

“All new packages of effective sanctions will rather postpone such an outcome and weaken Łukašenka’s regime until it collapses and create conditions for democratic change in Belarus,” he stressed.

Russia and Belarus have been circumventing sanctions, taking advantage of inconsistencies, the politician said, noting that the West underestimates Łukašenka’s role and does not punish him to the same extent as the Kremlin.