Ukraine warns Belarus over border road works as tensions rise

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has warned Belarus that road construction and the completion of weapons and fuel depots along their shared border are being prepared for a "military purpose". He posted maps and satellite images to back his claims and called for an immediate halt to the works, urging Minsk to de‑escalate.

Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko responded by calling for negotiations, saying "Unsere Position ist friedliebend" and "Lasst uns verhandeln, Leute". He stressed that Belarus does not intend to join the war and warned against being drawn into the conflict, recalling that Russian forces had previously used Belarusian territory during the 2022 invasion of Ukraine. The exchange highlights growing diplomatic friction between Kyiv and Minsk amid broader regional security concerns.