Ukraine may consider launching preventive missile strikes on Belarus in response to the invasion by Russian President Vladimir Putin.

“#Ukraine does not rule out the possibility of a preventive missile strike on the territory of #Belarus in response to the actions of the dictator,” NEXTA, an East European media outlet, tweeted on Tuesday. 

Ukraine’s representative to the United Nations Sergiy Kyslytsya had, on Monday, accused Belarus of betrayal as it aided Russia in the invasion.

“There is a full-fledged war in Central Europe. Everyone in the world knows that Russians alone started this invasion now facilitated by Belarus. It was not chosen by Ukraine. Soldiers were brought in on the pretext of the military exercise by Russia,” Mr Kyslytsya said. 

On Sunday, Mr Zelensky asked Belarus to stay out of Russia’s war. 

“In the war that is going on now, you are not on the same side with us,” Mr Zelensky stated. “From your territory, the troops of the Russian Federation launch rockets into Ukraine…We are your neighbours. We are Ukrainians. Be Belarus, not Russia.”

On Monday, Belarus announced that it was revoking its non-nuclear status after a referendum, allowing the country to host nuclear weapons and Russian forces, as well as introducing constitutional reforms that also extended the rule of President Alexander Lukashenko.

Belarus was sanctioned by the European Union (EU) for its involvement in Russia’s offensive against Ukraine.