Belarus Rejects Ukraine’s Demand for Troop Withdrawal from Border

Belarus has rejected Ukraine’s requests to withdraw troops from the border between the two countries, accusing Kyiv of provocative actions and drone flights over Belarusian territory. The Belarusian Foreign Ministry spokesperson, Anatoly Glaz, said Minsk had received no official communication from Ukraine regarding troop withdrawal and only saw the request on online platforms. Ukraine, however, expressed concerns over Belarusian military exercises near the border and the Chernobyl nuclear power plant, labeling them a threat to national security. Kyiv urged Minsk to cease hostile actions and withdraw troops from the border. Belarus has been reinforcing its military presence along the border with Ukraine since August 2023 following reports of Ukrainian drone strikes targeting Russia.