As world looks to Ukraine, did Russia just take Belarus?

Russia has de facto “occupied” its neighbour Belarus, MEPs have warned, even as the world’s attention focuses on Ukraine.

“The recent deployment of Russian troops in Belarus poses a threat to Ukraine, Poland, Lithuania, Latvia, and the whole of Europe. It may also be a part of the ultimate plan to subjugate and occupy Belarus,” the MEPs said in an open letter to the heads of other EU institutions on Tuesday (1 February).

“The continued presence of Russian military forces at the request of the illegitimate [Belarus president Alexander] Lukashenko regime should be treated as an occupation of Belarus. This must be made absolutely clear during the ongoing US and EU talks with Russia,” they added.