Lukashenko Pushes Belarus Further Away From West as Putin Alliance Grows

Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko's government, a top ally of Russian President Vladimir Putin, reportedly recalled its ambassador in the U.K. on Friday over what it said were "hostile" actions.

The day before, Belarus purportedly allowed Russia to launch 25 missiles from its territory into Ukraine amid the ongoing war, striking in the Ukrainian cities Chernihiv and Zhytomyr and outside the capitol of Kyiv, Agence France-Presse (AFP) reported.

The dual reports on the withdrawal of Belarus' ambassador and Russian missile strikes from Belarusian territory indicate that Lukashenko is distancing his country from the West while his alliance with Putin is deepening. Putin told a bilateral forum in the Belarusian city of Grodno earlier this month that the "unprecedented" sanctions imposed on both Russia and Belarus since the start of the Russia-Ukraine War on February 24 was pushing the two countries toward "unification."

"After all, it is easier to minimize the damage from illegal sanctions, it is easier to master the production of demanded products, develop new competencies and expand cooperation with friendly countries," Putin added.

Belarus has yet to send any forces into Ukraine, but it has aided Russia by allowing it to place troops within and launch airstrikes from its territory even before the reported missile strikes on Thursday.

A top Ukrainian official said in June that Belarus had given Russia "full control" of the Zyabrovka airfield near the Ukraine-Belarus border.

Mark Voyger, a former adviser to the U.S. Army, also told UK Express last month that there are concerns Putin is pressuring Belarus to add troops to its Ukraine offensive, stoking fears that Lukashenko could deploy his army.

Multiple news outlets, including Reuters and AFP, reported the withdrawal of the Belarusian ambassador in the U.K., citing a statement from Belarus' Foreign Ministry that did not appear to be publicly available on its website.

The statement, according to AFP, said that the order came "in connection to a number of hostile, unfriendly, steps by Great Britain," including sanctions imposed on Belarus over its role in the Russia-Ukraine War.

"A decision was made to lower the level of diplomatic representation of our country in London," the statement read.

Belarus' ministry said that ordering the ambassador home does not mean it is cutting off communication with the U.K., according to AFP.

"We did not initiate any moves against our country and, as previously, are for mutual respectful and constructive dialogue," it said.

In a statement shared with Newsweek, a spokesperson for the U.K.'s. Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office said: "Decisions about individuals appointed to serve at its embassies are a matter for the Belarusian government."

Newsweek reached out to Belarus' Foreign Ministry for comment and confirmation on the missile and ambassador reports. Russia's Foreign Ministry was also contacted for comment.

Update 7/29/2022, 4:50 p.m. ET: This story was updated with a statement from the U.K.'s. Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office.