What price will Belarus pay for supporting Russia in Ukraine? | DW News

Since it invaded Ukraine, Russia has become increasingly isolated from the rest of the world. One of its few remaining allies is the authoritarian leadership of Belarus. However its smaller neighbour is paying the price for its role in Putin's war.
Vladimir Putin has been tightening his hold over Belarus - and its autocratic leader Alexander Lukashenko. And with the two countries targeted by sanctions over the Ukraine war, Russian dominance is only set to grow.
Last fall Putin and Lukashenko agreed on a 28-point economic cooperation plan. It includes a common monetary policy and energy market.
But in this partnership, Russia is firmly in the driver's seat.
Around 45% of all goods exported by Belarus in 2020 went to Russia. These mainly included fertilizers and food, such as dairy products and meat, and trucks. It's a similar story for imports: Half came from Russia - primarily raw materials such as oil and gas. The two nations hope to establish a common energy market by 2023.
Moscow has already signed Belarus up for its Eurasian Economic Union - a trading bloc aimed at increasing Russian influence over former Soviet countries.

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[miccheck]

Belarus is not an independent country, it is just another annexed part of Russia and must be treated as such.

[meejinhuang]

The Belarus regime needs to have the same sanctions Russia has.

[viktorkolaric]

Belarus has a chance right now to rise up and overthrow puppet Lukaschenko, while Russian army is busy in Ukraine. Yes it would probably mean that the Russia would try to retake it by force but that wold mean splitting their force between Belarus and Ukraine, and they are already stretched thin.

[Kaprwithos]

That thumbnail 😂 Well played DW, well played 👏 😂 😂 😂

[cmt]

Both of these countries need to be held accountable and pay for the damage they have done! Belarus and Russia should be shunned from the rest of the world until their debt to Ukraine is paid in full and their leaders are removed!

[erto]

I hit like just because the thumbnail. whoever did the graphic deserves a raise :)

[theretiringbarber]

They will never recover from this, the same for Russia and the poor Russian people ALL BECAUSE OF ONE MANIAC .

[gemi]

If the leader of Belarus and Russia disappears, then the citizens will be able to live in peace, one person cannot bully a whole nation. Get rid of them.

[somnathde]

This Belarus President has to face trial for crime against humanity.

[mreyes]

Extreme sanctions should also be imposed in Belarus!!!

[kenbrass]

The one thing nobody has talked about when this war is over reparations I would expect all the funds that are frozen that belong to Russia immediately be diverted to reparations for Ukraine's infrastructure and people and then before we allow future import of Russian oil and goods those reparations be paid maybe it may even slow the damage done knowing they're going to have to pay for all that damage

[georgebibyk]

Bellarus is where the peace talks started, Belarus is where the launch of the war started! You can't have both! Belarus blew it!

[critterfritter]

The West should continue sanctions even when Russia is forced to retreat, but hold out a hand to both Russians and Belarussians to come out from under sanctions just as soon as they depose their leaders.

[louisavondart]

The Belarus chief of general staff has resigned, along with many other senior officers and the soldiers are deserting in droves and leaving the country. They want nothing to do with Putin's butchery. The back door to Russia is open.

[ulisnnv]

After its wars, the Soviet Union fell apart, now the autonomous
republics inside the russian federation await their full independence
until it is not a federation any more but just... russia. Yes, with a
small 'r'!

[thetinkerer]

Come on Putin.. stop teasing us and kiss him already.

[trevortrevortsr]

Belarus military refused to go into Ukraine - Ist sensible thing so far on the losing team

[jak]

I suggest to UN to propose that if Ukraine does defeat Russia in this war, then UN should let Ukraine REPLACE Russia's seat in UN as one of the 5 permanent council members of UN with veto power. This will boost the morale of the freedom fighters in Ukraine and compensate for the sacrifice made by the Ukrainian people.

[Tirana]

The danger for regimes such as those in Moscow and Minsk, is that when the people lose their fear of them, they fall. Twentieth century history is littered with examples, the most significant one being the Soviet Union.

[bogspontanares]

They must be man enough to face for what that did, their life is not enough to pay for all the atrocities they did, life for life, blood for blood