Belarus is being annexed by Russia and its government will face the same “massive” sanctions as Moscow should there be an invasion of Ukraine from its territory, the EU’s foreign affairs chief has said.
“I want to repeat once again that any further aggression against Ukraine will have a strong answer from the European Union,” he told reporters in Brussels.
“But I want to add that this will also apply to Belarus should an attack be conducted from each territory with its involvement.
Lithuania’s foreign affairs minister, Gabrielius Landsbergis, said the Belarusian armed forces were no longer acting purely on orders coming from Minsk.
There remain differences of opinion among the 27 member states on what level of sanctions will be imposed on Russia over the move.
He said: “I will certainly put on the table the sanctions package that has been prepared.
The EU has threatened “severe costs and massive consequences” in the event of a further Russian incursion into Ukraine. »