Belarus says will join Russia's Ukraine offensive 'only' if attacked

Lukashenko made the comments at a rare press conference with foreign journalists in Minsk

Belarus' President Alexander Lukashenko speaks as he meets with foreign media at his residence, the Independence Palace, in the capital Minsk. Credit: AFP Photo

Belarusian strongman Alexander Lukashenko said Thursday that his country would "only" join Russia's offensive in Ukraine if his country, which hosts Russian forces, was attacked first by Kyiv's army.

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"I'm ready to fight together with the Russians from the territory of Belarus in one case only: if so much as one soldier from (Ukraine) comes to our territory with a gun to kill my people," Lukashenko said in a rare press conference with foreign journalists in Minsk.