Why is Belarus helping Russia?

MOST of Europe has condemned Vladimir Putin’s invasion of Ukraine. But the government of Belarus has backed Putin’s army every step of the way. AlamyBelarusian President Alexander Lukashenko, left, meets Russian President Vladimir Putin at the Kremlin in Moscow on February 18, 2022.[/caption] Why is Belarus helping Russia? Belarus and Russia have been close allies since the Soviet Union dissolved in 1991. Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko is considered a puppet of Russian President Putin. Belarus shares its eastern border with the much larger Russia. The two former Soviet nations present a united front on most issues. Lukashenko even accused the West of “pushing Russia into World War 3” in February 2022. Belarus hosted peace talks between Moscow and Kyiv on its border after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine began. But the negotiations were fruitless and Russia pushed its troops and tanks even farther into Ukraine. UKRAINE LATEST PUTIN'S PUPPET Belarus helps Russia with Ukraine invasion SHELLSHOCKED Shell will stop buying Russian oil and gas in U-turn after Ukraine invasion ‘LOVE YOU PASH’ Hobbit star killed in Ukraine war hailed by pals as ‘inspirational warrior’ PUT OUT Ukraine war 'will be Putin's end', Ben Wallace says TAKEN OUT Second top Russian general killed in days as Putin's troops 'desert posts' MAC ATTACKED McDonald's restaurants in UK face boycott over Russia links Has Belarus invaded Ukraine? Ukraine reported that soldiers are invading not just from the Russian border in the east, but also through the Belarusian border in the north. Map of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Ukrainian Parliament said in early March 2022 that Belarusian troops had invaded the country’s Chernihiv region. Belarus denied this, but the Belarusian capital, Minsk, is being considered “an extension of the Kremlin.” Read our Russia – Ukraine live blog for the very latest updates As a result of the Ukrainian invasion, Belarus joins Russia in facing draconian sanctions from the West. Belarus was also sanctioned in 2021 after it illegally grounded a Ryanair flight. Is Belarus a part of Russia? Belarus declared independence from the Soviet Union in 1991. It had been a founding member of the USSR in 1922. Authoritarian Lukashenko took power in 1994 and has remained president ever since. He’s been called “Europe’s last dictator.” Belarus is located in Eastern Europe. It is not part of the European Union or Nato. It borders Russia on the east. Nato and EU member state Poland adjoins Belarus to the west. The country’s north-western neighbours, Latvia and Lithuania, are also former members of the Soviet Union. Latvia and Lithuania are now part of the EU and Nato. All you need to know about Russia's invasion of Ukraine Everything you need to know about Russia's invasion of Ukraine... Why is Russia invading Ukraine? Will the UK go to war? How can I join the Ukraine foreign legion? What can I do to help Ukraine? Who is Ukraine’s president Volodymyr Zelenskyy? How much gas does the UK get from Russia? Is Russia a part of Nato? Does Russia have nuclear weapons? Why is Ukraine not in Nato? How big is the Russian army? What is Article 5 of the Nato treaty? What is the Minsk agreement? Which countries were in the Soviet Union? What does the Z mean on Russian tanks? Meaning behind symbols explained