Living 30 kilometres from the Ukrainian border, Belarusian retiree Sergei Budyukhin says the war on the other side of the frontier never feels far away. For him, Belarusians, Russians and Ukrainians "are one people".

President Aleksandr G. Lukashenko, a close ally of Russia’s leader, Vladimir V. Putin, has been making signs of reaching out to the West. He is all but certain to win an election on Sunday.

Tied to Vladimir Putin economically, politically and militarily, the Belarusian dictator knows that a defeat for Moscow in Ukraine will probably lead to his downfall.

"Once the war is over, once the propaganda machine is dismantled, Ukrainians, Belarusians and Russians will come to peace and mutual understanding," the Ukrainian journalist believes.

Part of the modern territory of Belarus is originally "Ukrainian lands". This was stated by the former Foreign Minister of Ukraine Dmitry Kuleba.

Exiled opposition leader Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya has accused Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko of playing games with the West by drip-feeding releases of political prisoners ahead of an election on Sunday in which he is set to extend his 31-year rule.

The French armed forces conducted secret exercises on the deployment of troops in Ukraine to help repel a possible offensive by the army of the aggressor

Lithuanian Customs has decided to hand over cars confiscated on the border with Belarus to Ukraine as humanitarian aid. We are talking about those cars that were used to smuggle cigarettes.

The outcome of the 2025 presidential election is not in doubt. Alexander Lukashenko, once dubbed "Europe's last dictator," who has ruled Belarus with an iron fist for more than 30 years, will be declared the winner and secure a seventh term in office.

Recognition of the legitimacy of Alexander Lukashenko after the “vote” in Belarus is not relevant for Ukraine, which also stands in solidarity with the position of democratic countries on the lack of conditions for holding elections in Belarus in accordance with OSCE standards.

Many voters intend to shun this weekend’s presidential election in Belarus, according to research carried out by Chatham House.