Disclaimer: A number of claims and counterclaims are being made on the Ukraine-Russia conflict on the ground and online. While WION takes utmost care to accurately report this developing news story, we cannot independently verify the authenticity of all statements, photos and videos.

Russia’s ally Belarus could soon join Vladimir Putin’s war against Ukraine, CNN reports citing officials from US and NATO.

The news outlet, quoting sources from the Belarus opposition, claimed that thousands of Belarusian forces are prepared to be deployed and can land Ukraine any time in the “next few days”.

“(Russian President Vladimir) Putin needs support. Anything would help,” a NATO military official told CNN.

Another NATO intelligence official alleged that the Belarusian government “is preparing the environment to justify a Belarusian offensive against Ukraine."

This latest development comes a month after Belarus changed its constitution last month to allow the country to host both Russian forces and nuclear weapons permanently.

As the Russian-Ukraine war entered the 28th day, the UK intelligence report said that Russian troops have been facing stiff resistance due to which it has been unable to capture the capital Kyiv.

“Russian forces advancing on the city from the northeast have stalled. Forces advancing from the direction of Hostomel to the northwest have been repulsed by fierce Ukrainian resistance.” the ministry of defence said in a statement.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/who-is-putins-girlfriend-and-why-is-she-trending-amidst-russia-ukraine-war-464880">Who is Putin’s girlfriend? And why is she trending amidst Russia-Ukraine war?</a>

Oleksandr Markushyn, mayor of the Kyiv suburb of Irpin, said the Ukrainian armed forces, territorial defence and police "have 80 per cent of our city under control."

Meanwhile, Ukrainian presidential adviser Oleksiy Arestovych on Wednesday said that he expected the active phase of the Russian invasion to be over by the end of April as the Russian advance had already stalled in many areas, Reuters reported.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/russian-spies-in-poland-country-expels-45-russian-diplomats-for-espionage-464868">Russian spies in Poland?: Country expels 45 Russian diplomats for espionage</a>

Speaking on local television, Arestovych said Russia had already lost 40 per cent of its attacking forces, and also played down the prospect of Russia waging nuclear war.

Reuters, however, said it could not independently verify his statements.

Watch |&nbsp;Russia reiterates 'nuclear threat', will use weapons if required

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/russia-reiterates-nuclear-threat-will-use-weapons-if-required-464885/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

(With inputs from agencies)

Disclaimer: A number of claims and counterclaims are being made on the Ukraine-Russia conflict on the ground and online. While WION takes utmost care to accurately report this developing news story, we cannot independently verify the authenticity of all statements, photos and videos.

Disclaimer: A number of claims and counterclaims are being made on the Ukraine-Russia conflict on the ground and online. While WION takes utmost care to accurately report this developing news story, we cannot independently verify the authenticity of all statements, photos and videos. Russia’s ally Belarus could soon join Vladimir Putin’s war against Ukraine, CNN reports citing officials from US and NATO. The news outlet, quoting sources from the Belarus opposition, claimed that thousands of Belarusian forces are prepared to be deployed and can land Ukraine any time in the “next few days”. “(Russian President Vladimir) Putin needs support. Anything would help,” a NATO military official told CNN. Another NATO intelligence official alleged that the Belarusian government “is preparing the environment to justify a Belarusian offensive against Ukraine." This latest development comes a month after Belarus changed its constitution last month to allow the country to host both Russian forces and nuclear weapons permanently. As the Russian-Ukraine war entered the 28th day, the UK intelligence report said that Russian troops have been facing stiff resistance due to which it has been unable to capture the capital Kyiv. “Russian forces advancing on the city from the northeast have stalled. Forces advancing from the direction of Hostomel to the northwest have been repulsed by fierce Ukrainian resistance.” the ministry of defence said in a statement. Also read | Who is Putin’s girlfriend? And why is she trending amidst Russia-Ukraine war? Oleksandr Markushyn, mayor of the Kyiv suburb of Irpin, said the Ukrainian armed forces, territorial defence and police "have 80 per cent of our city under control." Meanwhile, Ukrainian presidential adviser Oleksiy Arestovych on Wednesday said that he expected the active phase of the Russian invasion to be over by the end of April as the Russian advance had already stalled in many areas, Reuters reported. Also read | Russian spies in Poland?: Country expels 45 Russian diplomats for espionage Speaking on local television, Arestovych said Russia had already lost 40 per cent of its attacking forces, and also played down the prospect of Russia waging nuclear war. Reuters, however, said it could not independently verify his statements. Watch | Russia reiterates 'nuclear threat', will use weapons if required (With inputs from agencies)

Belarus could join Russia’s war against Ukraine ‘in next few days’: Report

After <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/germany-denies-lukashenko-recognition-as-belarus-president-329683">Lukashenko</a> was sworn in a secret ceremony as President, the US said it cannot consider him the "legitimate" leader of Belarus since the August 9 elections were "neither free nor fair".

Watch:

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Protesters clashed with police as thousands took to the streets after Lukashenko's latest move. Lukashenko who has ruled Belarus for 26 years held his swearing-in ceremony unannounced after claiming a landslide victory in the polls.

Opposition leader Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya who had fled into exile after the election said that the secret inauguration was "an attempt to seize power".

Lukashenko said Belarus was "on the brink of a global crisis" while adding, "I cannot, I have no right to abandon the Belarusians," even as thousands of demonstrators carrying red-and-white opposition flags protested.&nbsp;

Reports said several people were injured as security officials fired water cannons with at last 10 people taken in custody as Lukashenko during the oath-taking ceremony said he would &nbsp;"faithfully serve the people of the Republic of Belarus, respect and protect the rights and freedoms of the person and of the citizen" and defend the constitution."

Germany backed the US decision and said it did not recognise Lukashenko as president and urged the EU to impose sanctions on the country which was agreed upon earlier.

Lithuanian foreign minister Linas Linkevicius said: "Such a farce. Forget elections...His illegitimacy is a fact with all the consequences that this entails."

However, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said the swearing-in was "absolutely the sovereign decision of the Belarusian leadership".&nbsp;

After Lukashenko was sworn in a secret ceremony as President, the US said it cannot consider him the "legitimate" leader of Belarus since the August 9 elections were "neither free nor fair".

After Lukashenko was sworn in a secret ceremony as President, the US said it cannot consider him the "legitimate" leader of Belarus since the August 9 elections were "neither free nor fair". Watch: Protesters clashed with police as thousands took to the streets after Lukashenko's latest move. Lukashenko who has ruled Belarus for 26 years held his swearing-in ceremony unannounced after claiming a landslide victory in the polls. Opposition leader Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya who had fled into exile after the election said that the secret inauguration was "an attempt to seize power". Lukashenko said Belarus was "on the brink of a global crisis" while adding, "I cannot, I have no right to abandon the Belarusians," even as thousands of demonstrators carrying red-and-white opposition flags protested. Reports said several people were injured as security officials fired water cannons with at last 10 people taken in custody as Lukashenko during the oath-taking ceremony said he would "faithfully serve the people of the Republic of Belarus, respect and protect the rights and freedoms of the person and of the citizen" and defend the constitution." Germany backed the US decision and said it did not recognise Lukashenko as president and urged the EU to impose sanctions on the country which was agreed upon earlier. Lithuanian foreign minister Linas Linkevicius said: "Such a farce. Forget elections...His illegitimacy is a fact with all the consequences that this entails." However, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said the swearing-in was "absolutely the sovereign decision of the Belarusian leadership".

Cannot consider Lukashenko legitimately elected leader of Belarus: US

Belarus President Alexander Lukashenko said on Thursday that Belarus needs to close its borders with Poland and Lithuania, and strengthen border controls with Ukraine.

Belarus has been in a political crisis following an August 9 presidential election marred by vote-rigging allegations that led to mass demonstrations against Lukashenko.&nbsp;

Lukashenko says he won re-election fairly and is the victim of a smear campaign by the West.

“We are compelled to withdraw our troops from the streets, have half our army on guard and close our state border with the West, first of all with Lithuania and Poland,” Lukashenko said in a speech at a women’s forum in Minsk.&nbsp;

“To our greatest regret, we are compelled to strengthen our border with brotherly Ukraine.”

Lukashenko’s announcement comes as the United States and a slew of European countries have stepped up scrutiny of Belarus over alleged irregularities in the country’s August election and repression of protests since.

To this end, Polish deputy foreign minister Pawel Jablonski told Reuters by text message: “We take this as another element of the propaganda campaign, a psychological game which aims to create a sense of an external threat.”

Lithuanian border guard chief Rustamas Liubajevas said the border there was also operating as usual.

Meanwhile, Denmark said on Thursday that seventeen members of the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) have appointed an independent team of experts to investigate alleged rights violations in the August presidential election.

The mission is expected to publish a report within six to eight weeks.

It will investigate reports of persecution of candidates, journalists and activists as well as excessive use of force against peaceful protesters, illegal detention and torture.

Speaking on a visit to Washington, British Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab said he believed the game plan of Lukashenko and his main backer, Russian President Vladimir Putin, was to “try to sit this out”.

Minsk prevented the deployment of OSCE election observers by not inviting them, and has ignored repeated offers by the OSCE chairman, Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama, to visit.

The OSCE members behind the mission are Denmark, Belgium, Canada, Estonia, Finland, France, Iceland, Latvia, Lithuania, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Romania, Slovakia, Britain, the Czech Republic and the United States. 
&nbsp;

Belarus President Alexander Lukashenko said on Thursday that Belarus needs to close its borders with Poland and Lithuania, and strengthen border controls with Ukraine.

Belarus President Alexander Lukashenko said on Thursday that Belarus needs to close its borders with Poland and Lithuania, and strengthen border controls with Ukraine. Belarus has been in a political crisis following an August 9 presidential election marred by vote-rigging allegations that led to mass demonstrations against Lukashenko. Lukashenko says he won re-election fairly and is the victim of a smear campaign by the West. “We are compelled to withdraw our troops from the streets, have half our army on guard and close our state border with the West, first of all with Lithuania and Poland,” Lukashenko said in a speech at a women’s forum in Minsk. “To our greatest regret, we are compelled to strengthen our border with brotherly Ukraine.” Lukashenko’s announcement comes as the United States and a slew of European countries have stepped up scrutiny of Belarus over alleged irregularities in the country’s August election and repression of protests since. To this end, Polish deputy foreign minister Pawel Jablonski told Reuters by text message: “We take this as another element of the propaganda campaign, a psychological game which aims to create a sense of an external threat.” Lithuanian border guard chief Rustamas Liubajevas said the border there was also operating as usual. Meanwhile, Denmark said on Thursday that seventeen members of the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) have appointed an independent team of experts to investigate alleged rights violations in the August presidential election. The mission is expected to publish a report within six to eight weeks. It will investigate reports of persecution of candidates, journalists and activists as well as excessive use of force against peaceful protesters, illegal detention and torture. Speaking on a visit to Washington, British Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab said he believed the game plan of Lukashenko and his main backer, Russian President Vladimir Putin, was to “try to sit this out”. Minsk prevented the deployment of OSCE election observers by not inviting them, and has ignored repeated offers by the OSCE chairman, Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama, to visit. The OSCE members behind the mission are Denmark, Belgium, Canada, Estonia, Finland, France, Iceland, Latvia, Lithuania, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Romania, Slovakia, Britain, the Czech Republic and the United States.

Belarus to close borders with Poland and Lithuania

Talks between Belarusian leader Alexander Lukashenko and Russian President Vladimir Putin in the Black Sea resort of Sochi have ended. The talks lasted more than 4 hours. Putin has promised a $1.5 billion loan to Lukashenko.

Fineprint: Putin Promises $1.5 billion loan to Lukashenko