Belarus

Finland's Nato moment

A snub for Putin, a risk for Europe

Putin, Lukashenko pledge to boost integration between Russia, Belarus

Russian President Vladimir Putin and Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko have vowed to push ahead the integration process between the two countries.

Wimbledon allows Russian, Belarusian players to compete under neutral flags

In response to Russia's invasion of Ukraine, Wimbledon barred players from Russia and Belarus last year. In 2022, Wimbledon's ranking points were taken away due to the ban

Ukraine demands emergency UN meeting over Putin nuclear plan

Ukraine's government on Sunday called for an emergency meeting of the UN Security Council to counter the Kremlin's nuclear blackmail after Russian President Vladimir Putin revealed plans to station tactical atomic weapons in Belarus. One Ukrainian official said Russia "took Belarus as a nuclear hostage. Further heightening tensions, an explosion deep inside Russia wounded three people on Sunday. Russian authorities blamed a Ukrainian drone for the blast, which damaged residential buildings in a town just 175 kilometers (110 miles) south of Moscow. Russia has said the plan to station tactical nuclear weapons in Belarus comes in response to the West's increasing military support for Ukraine. Putin announced the plan in a TV interview that aired Saturday, saying it was triggered by a UK decision this past week to provide Ukraine with armour-piercing rounds containing depleted uranium. Putin argued that by deploying its tactical nuclear weapons in Belarus, Russia was following the lead

Russia to station tactical nuclear weapons in Belarus, says Vladimir Putin

Russian President Vladimir Putin announced plans on Saturday to station tactical nuclear weapons in neighbouring Belarus. Putin said the plan was in response to Britain's decision this past week to provide Ukraine with armour-piercing rounds containing depleted uranium. Russia falsely claimed these rounds have nuclear components. Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko has long asked for the weapons, Putin said, speaking in an interview on Russian state television. He said construction of storage facilities for the weapons in Belarus would be completed by July 1. Russia used the territory of Belarus as a staging ground to send troops into Ukraine, and Moscow and Minsk have maintained close military ties.

EU asks UEFA to ban Belarus from Euro 2024 due to its human rights record

A group of more than 100 European Union lawmakers is urging European soccer's governing body to ban Belarus from qualifying for the 2024 European Championship. MEPs from across the political spectrum wrote in a letter sent to UEFA president Alexander Ceferin that the Belarusian national team should not be able to compete because of the country's terrible human rights record. "These are not only UEFA values at stake, but also UEFA's reputation and image within democratic societies and international community," they said. Last week, a court in Belarus sentenced exiled opposition leader Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya to 15 years in prison after a trial in absentia on charges including conspiring to overthrow the government, the latest move in a months-long effort by the government to suppress dissent. Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko is a close ally of Russian President Vladimir Putin in his war against Ukraine. Russia used Belarusian territory to send troops into Ukraine more than

Over 30 nations back ban on Russia, Belarus competing in int'l events

More than 30 like-minded nations have pledged their ongoing support for a ban on Russian and Belarusian athletes competing in international competitions, including the 2024 Olympic Games.

Tennis Australia bans Russian, Belarusian flags at Australian Open

Tennis Australia has banned Russian, Belarusian flags at the Australian Open after a controversy erupted over the Russian flag seen hanging outside the court

Ukraine boosts border defence with Belarus amid fear of fresh attacks

Amid fears that Russia may be preparing for a fresh attack, Ukraine is boosting the defences of its border with Belarus, a Minister in Kiev has confirmed

Russian President Putin visits Belarus as he eyes next steps in Ukraine war

Russian President Vladimir Putin made a rare trip Monday to Moscow's ally Belarus as his forces pursued their campaign to torment Ukraine from the air amid a broad battlefield stalemate almost 10 months into the war. Putin's visit came hours after Russia's latest drone attack on Ukraine. Moscow has been targeting Ukraine's power grid since October as part of a strategy to try to leave the country without heat and light during the bitterly cold winter. The Russian leader's brief trip to Minsk could herald more military support for the Kremlin's war effort, after Belarus provided the Kremlin's troops with a launching pad for the invasion of Ukraine last February. Belarus is believed to have Soviet-era weapons stockpiles that could be useful for Moscow. Lukashenko, meanwhile, needs help with his country's ailing economy. It was a rare trip to Minsk by Putin, who usually receives Lukashenko at the Kremlin. Moscow has kept up its war effort despite Western sanctions and the supply of ..

Iran to draw up roadmap with Belarus to strengthen economic ties

Iran's first Vice-President Mohammad Mokhber has said that Tehran and Minsk will draw up a roadmap for expanding economic and trade relations

Russia and Belarus sign agreement for spent nuclear fuel management

Russia and Belarus ]signed an agreement on cooperation in the field of spent nuclear fuel management

EAM Jaishankar holds bilateral talks with Belarusian counterpart Makei

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Wednesday held talks with his visiting Belarusian counterpart Vladimir Makei covering a range of issues including bilateral economic engagement and the Ukraine conflict. Makei arrived here Wednesday morning on a three-day visit. "Met FM Vladimir Makei of Belarus who is in India for our Inter-Governmental Commission meeting. Our discussion covered bilateral economic ties, Ukraine conflict and multilateral cooperation," Jaishankar tweeted. India and Belarus have a comprehensive partnership. Both countries have established mechanisms for exchanging views on bilateral, regional and multilateral issues through Foreign Office Consultations (FOCs), India-Belarus Inter-governmental Commission (IGC) and Commission on Military Technical Cooperation. It is learnt that the Ukraine conflict figured prominently in the talks between Jaishankar and Makei. India has not yet condemned the Russian invasion of Ukraine and it has been maintaining that the cri

Iran calls for expanding trade with Belarus to counter Western sanctions

Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf has said that Iran's expansion of economic and trade ties with Belarus can help minimise the impact of sanctions

Russia, Belarus ambassadors barred from Nobel ceremony in Stockholm

The ambassadors of Russia and Belarus have been excluded from this year's Nobel Prize ceremony in Stockholm because of the war in Ukraine. The Nobel Foundation, a private foundation which administers the prestigious awards, normally invites ambassadors stationed in Sweden to the annual award ceremony on Dec. 10. But due to Russia's invasion of Ukraine, the Nobel Foundation has chosen not to invite the ambassadors of Russia and Belarus to the Nobel Prize ceremony in Stockholm, it said in a statement Tuesday. The foundation also said it would continue its practice of inviting the leaders of all parties in the Swedish Parliament, except the anti-immigration Sweden Democrats. The group, which has sought to distance itself from its far-right roots, won more than 20% of the vote in Sweden's Sept. 11 election to become the country's second biggest political party and a close partner of the new center-right government. The Nobel Foundation said it saw no reason to reconsider its previous

Belarus's Bialiatski joins small group of jailed Nobel Peace laureates

Belarussian pro-democracy campaigner Ales Bialiatski, who shared the Nobel Peace Prize with human rights groups in Russia and Ukraine, is the fourth person in the 121-year history of the Nobel Prizes to receive the award while in prison or detention. Bialiatski, 60, who founded the non-governmental organisation Human Rights Center Viasna, was detained following protests in 2020 against the re-election of Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko. He remains in jail without trial and faces up to 12 years in prison if convicted. Nobel committee chairwoman Berit Reiss-Andersen urged Belarus to release Bialiatski but acknowledged that chances of that happening in time for the Dec. 10 award ceremony were slim. Here is a look at what happened to the other Nobel Peace Prize winners who were in captivity when they were awarded the prize. CARL VON OSSIETZKY The German journalist, a staunch opponent of militarism, was imprisoned for exposing secret plans for German rearmament in the 1920s.

Nobel Peace Prize: A look at the peacemakers from Belarus, Russia & Ukraine

For many years, these laureates promoted the right to criticise power and protect the fundamental rights of citizens

Russia, Belarus vow to strengthen partnership, discuss operations

Russian President Vladimir Putin and Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko pledged to consistently strengthen the two countries' partnership and alliance.

Ukrainian President Zelenskyy says Belarus is being drawn into Russia's war

Ukraine President Zelensky said that Belarus is being drawn into Russia's ongoing war against Kiev more actively than at the beginning, and that the Kremlin has already "decided everything" for Minsk

Russia's Sberbank says India, Belarus still discussing potash sale deal

Russia's Sberbank said Indian Potash Ltd (IPL) and Belarusian Potash Company (BPC) have been in discussions about settlement details of a potash sale deal