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.

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.

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.

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 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.