The call came amid Ukrainian warnings that Moscow could be preparing a new push into northern Ukraine with Belarusian support. Minsk recently joined Russian nuclear weapons drills, adding to concerns over military activity near NATO’s eastern flank. Belarus has been one of Moscow’s closest allies since the full-scale invasion of Ukraine began in February 2022, allowing Russian forces to use its territory as a staging ground. Belarusian troops have not directly entered the war, but Kyiv and Western governments remain wary of renewed pressure from Belarus.