Alexander Lukashenko, Vladimir Putin’s closest ally in Europe, has threatened NATO with all-out nuclear war in a new interview with state media.
Following Kiev’s brazen invasion of Russia, the Belarusian tyrant has strengthened security on its border with Ukraine.
In his interview, he warned NATO, claiming that a third world war would be inevitable if it sent its troops to support Ukraine.
He said: “Ukraine will not be able to defeat Russia. Who will? The West. NATO. We have to wait and see.”
“If they send NATO troops (to Ukraine), it will start World War III.”
Lukashenko claimed that if NATO entered the war, Russia would trigger a nuclear Armageddon.
“Both tactical and strategic nuclear weapons will be used and the response will be immediate and terrible,” he said.
“They (NATO) understand that too, and we understand it. That’s why we have to sit down at the negotiating table.”
The Belarusian president also claimed that Ukraine’s invasion of Russia was an attempt to “up the ante” and provoke Russia into using its nuclear weapons.
Faced with growing fears of an attack, Minsk immediately deployed troops to fortify the border with Ukraine.
The 69-year-old Belarusian ruler said a third of his 60,000 troops were stationed along the “heavily mined” southern border.
He claimed this was a response to the deployment of 120,000 troops on Kyiv’s side of the border.
However, the Ukrainian military said the troop strength on the Belarusian side had not changed.
