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Belarus

The latest news, analysis and opinion on Belarus. In-depth analysis, industry insights and expert opinion.

Capital

Minsk

Head of State

President Alexander Lukashenko

Head of Government

Prime Minister Roman Golovchenko

Russian service members rehearsing for Saturday’s parade. Photo: Reuters

Ukraine war

Russia and Ukraine trade attacks ahead of Moscow war parade

Russia has threatened a massive strike on the heart of Kyiv if Ukraine disrupts the Victory Day parade on Saturday.

8 May 2026 - 4:26PM

China food security

How the Middle East crisis is expanding China’s agrochemical influence

5 May 2026 - 8:29AM

China-North Korea relations

Why a 5-year defence pact between North Korea and Russia could make China uneasy

3 May 2026 - 10:00PMvideocam

North Korea

North Korea tests powerful missile engine. Will an ICBM launch follow?

The engine may be used in the Hwasong-20, which analysts say is capable of hitting targets around the globe.

31 Mar 2026 - 9:11AMvideocam

North Korea

North Korea and Belarus sign friendship treaty on Lukashenko’s first visit

Kim Jong-un and Alexander Lukashenko formalise ties in Pyongyang, agree to cooperate in an array of fields.

27 Mar 2026 - 10:08AM

North Korea

Kim welcomes Belarus’ Lukashenko to North Korea with a 21-gun salute

The two countries also signed a ‘friendship and cooperation’ treaty to deepen ties.

26 Mar 2026 - 3:49PM

Russia

Belarus frees 250 political prisoners as US removes more sanctions

It was the latest step in the Belarusian leader’s effort to improve ties with Washington.

20 Mar 2026 - 11:05AM

Rights activist Valiantsin Stefanovic was among those freed on Thursday. Photo: AFP

China-Russia relations

China, Russia look to boost transport links amid Middle East disruption

Increased use of Arctic shipping route among topics covered at inaugural China-Russia Logistics Business Forum.

17 Mar 2026 - 10:00PM

Hong Kong transport

Hongkong Post’s airmail services to 24 countries affected by strikes in Middle East

Public postal service suspends airmail to Saudi Arabia and United Arab Emirates, affecting ‘services transiting through these locations’.

1 Mar 2026 - 11:50PM

Ukraine war

Opinion | Don’t expect Russia’s war on Ukraine to end in its fifth year

Barring Moscow or Kyiv reaching breaking points in their war efforts, neither side will make any steps to end or ‘freeze’ the conflict.

26 Feb 2026 - 8:30PMvideocam

Ukrainian soldiers fire a multiple rocket launch system towards Russian troops near the frontline town of Kostiantynivka in Donetsk, Ukraine, on October 23, 2025. Photo: Reuters

Ukraine war

China ‘reminds’ its male citizens in Russia about Moscow’s military service law

Men applying for long-term Russian residency must agree to serve a year in the armed forces, consulate says in an unusual notice.

26 Feb 2026 - 8:03PMvideocam

Russia aims to conscript 261,000 of its citizens into the military this year. Photo: EPA

Donald Trump

Allies tepid on joining Trump’s ‘Board of Peace’ as countries study invites

Some leaders sign on to the Trump-chaired body, but initial reaction from two key allies, France and Canada, was lukewarm.

20 Jan 2026 - 12:29PM

Russia

Russia’s nuclear-capable missiles enter service, heightening Ukraine tensions

After Trump-Zelensky talks, Putin projects power by deploying nuclear-ready Oreshnik missiles to Belarus as a warning to the West.

30 Dec 2025 - 8:14PM

Russia

Russia likely moving new nuclear missiles that are hard to intercept to Belarus

Experts say deployment of the Oreshnik a strategic shift to deter Nato and extend Moscow’s missile range in Europe.

27 Dec 2025 - 2:27PMvideocam

Russian President Vladimir Putin has made clear his intention to ‍place intermediate-range Oreshnik missiles in Belarus. Photo: TASS via ZUMA Press/dpa

European Union

Opinion | Can Belarus balance relations with Russia, China and the US?

Minsk aims to rebalance its foreign policy towards Beijing and Washington but geopolitical realities prevent a full break from Russia.

23 Dec 2025 - 9:34PM

In this photo released by the Belarusian Presidential Press Service, Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko (second right) greets Keith Kellogg, the US Special Envoy for Ukraine and Russia (left) before their meeting in Minsk, Belarus, on June 21. Photo: Handout via AP

Ukraine war

Russia deploys nuclear-capable Oreshnik missile to Belarus amid Ukraine talks

Russian state media says it would take the weapon only 17 minutes to reach Nato headquarters in Brussels.

19 Dec 2025 - 3:57AMvideocam

European Union

Belarus agrees to stop balloon flights into Lithuania amid hybrid attack fears

The incidents have caused over a dozen closures of Vilnius airport in recent months, prompting Lithuania to declare a state of emergency.

14 Dec 2025 - 2:24AM

United States

Belarus frees 123 prisoners in exchange for US sanctions relief

Peace prize laureate Ales Bialiatski, opposition figure Maria Kolesnikova and 121 others have been released by one of Russia’s key allies.

13 Dec 2025 - 10:38PM

Tatsiana Khomich holds up a picture of her detained sister Maria Kalesnikava after accepting a prize on her behalf in 2022. Kalesnikava is one of those now due to be released by the authorities in Belarus. Photo: Reuters

Lithuania

Lithuania declares national emergency over balloons from Belarus

The declaration is in response to frequent airspace violations by smuggling balloons that Lithuania calls a ‘hybrid attack’ from Belarus.

10 Dec 2025 - 1:03PM

Ukraine war

Zelensky maps out ‘2 to 3 years’ of financial need to fight Ukraine war

Ukraine’s president said that though the war was unlikely to go on for decades, the country still needed Europe’s ‘stable financial support’.

28 Oct 2025 - 5:33PMvideocam

North Korea

US-North Korea flash summit remains long shot despite Trump’s open offer

Though a meeting with Trump would look good for Kim, the North Korean leader’s focus is on alliances with China and Russia, analysts say.

27 Oct 2025 - 9:28AMvideocam

US President Donald Trump (left) meets North Korean leader Kim Jong-un in Panmunjom on June 30, 2019. Photo: AP

Lithuania

Nato member Lithuania protests airspace incursion denied by Russia

Two Spanish fighter jets, which had been doing Nato air policing missions, were scrambled and flew out to the area.

24 Oct 2025 - 1:43PMvideocam

A Russian MiG-31 fighter jet that violated Estonian airspace in September. On Thursday, Lithuania said two Russian planes entered its airspace. Photo: Swedish Armed Forces via Reuters

Thailand

Belarusian model reportedly killed in Myanmar went there on her own: Thai police

Tabloids claim Vera Kravtsova was abducted in Bangkok and forcibly brought to Myanmar, where she was tortured and had her organs harvested.

22 Oct 2025 - 7:32PMvideocam

Hong Kong courts

Hong Kong court suspends jail term for Belarusian model who assaulted 2 officers

25-year-old Aliaksandr Buka receives 18-month suspended sentence after injuring officers during a drunken domestic dispute.

16 Oct 2025 - 6:34PM

Ukraine war

Russian attacks on Ukraine’s power grid intensify as winter approaches

Trump said on Sunday he may tell Putin that he could supply Ukraine with long-range Tomahawk missiles if the war is not settled.

13 Oct 2025 - 6:12AMvideocam

A general view of residential buildings during a power outage in Kyiv on Friday, following Russian attacks on Ukraine that cut power to thousands and killed a seven-year-old boy, authorities said. Photo: AFP

European Union

Lithuania’s Vilnius airport reopens after suspension over balloons in airspace

European aviation has repeatedly been thrown into chaos in recent weeks by drone sightings and air incursions.

5 Oct 2025 - 5:57PMvideocam

German Patriot air defence system units are seen at the Vilnius airport in Lithuania in July 2023. Photo: Reuters

Nato

Estonia says Russian fighter jets breached its airspace in ‘brazen’ incursion

The incident involving three MiG-31s comes soon after Russian drones entered fellow Nato member Poland’s airspace and were shot down.

20 Sep 2025 - 8:19AMvideocam

Belt and Road Initiative

Poland border closure sets up speed bumps on China-Europe railway: analysts

Insiders say closing of Belarus border spells trouble for users of the China-Europe Railway Express, and could put Poland’s transit hub status at risk.

18 Sep 2025 - 4:55AMvideocam

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Belarus

Russia and Ukraine trade attacks ahead of Moscow war parade

Russia has threatened a massive strike on the heart of Kyiv if Ukraine disrupts the Victory Day parade on Saturday.

How the Middle East crisis is expanding China’s agrochemical influence

Why a 5-year defence pact between North Korea and Russia could make China uneasy

North Korea tests powerful missile engine. Will an ICBM launch follow?

The engine may be used in the Hwasong-20, which analysts say is capable of hitting targets around the globe.

North Korea and Belarus sign friendship treaty on Lukashenko’s first visit

Kim Jong-un and Alexander Lukashenko formalise ties in Pyongyang, agree to cooperate in an array of fields.

Kim welcomes Belarus’ Lukashenko to North Korea with a 21-gun salute

The two countries also signed a ‘friendship and cooperation’ treaty to deepen ties.

Belarus frees 250 political prisoners as US removes more sanctions

It was the latest step in the Belarusian leader’s effort to improve ties with Washington.

China, Russia look to boost transport links amid Middle East disruption

Increased use of Arctic shipping route among topics covered at inaugural China-Russia Logistics Business Forum.

Hongkong Post’s airmail services to 24 countries affected by strikes in Middle East

Public postal service suspends airmail to Saudi Arabia and United Arab Emirates, affecting ‘services transiting through these locations’.

.css-1pcrwvc{color:#2aa191;}Opinion | Don’t expect Russia’s war on Ukraine to end in its fifth year

Barring Moscow or Kyiv reaching breaking points in their war efforts, neither side will make any steps to end or ‘freeze’ the conflict.

China ‘reminds’ its male citizens in Russia about Moscow’s military service law

Men applying for long-term Russian residency must agree to serve a year in the armed forces, consulate says in an unusual notice.

Allies tepid on joining Trump’s ‘Board of Peace’ as countries study invites

Some leaders sign on to the Trump-chaired body, but initial reaction from two key allies, France and Canada, was lukewarm.

Russia’s nuclear-capable missiles enter service, heightening Ukraine tensions

After Trump-Zelensky talks, Putin projects power by deploying nuclear-ready Oreshnik missiles to Belarus as a warning to the West.

Russia likely moving new nuclear missiles that are hard to intercept to Belarus

Experts say deployment of the Oreshnik a strategic shift to deter Nato and extend Moscow’s missile range in Europe.

Opinion | Can Belarus balance relations with Russia, China and the US?

Minsk aims to rebalance its foreign policy towards Beijing and Washington but geopolitical realities prevent a full break from Russia.

Russia deploys nuclear-capable Oreshnik missile to Belarus amid Ukraine talks

Russian state media says it would take the weapon only 17 minutes to reach Nato headquarters in Brussels.

Belarus agrees to stop balloon flights into Lithuania amid hybrid attack fears

The incidents have caused over a dozen closures of Vilnius airport in recent months, prompting Lithuania to declare a state of emergency.

Belarus frees 123 prisoners in exchange for US sanctions relief

Peace prize laureate Ales Bialiatski, opposition figure Maria Kolesnikova and 121 others have been released by one of Russia’s key allies.

Lithuania declares national emergency over balloons from Belarus

The declaration is in response to frequent airspace violations by smuggling balloons that Lithuania calls a ‘hybrid attack’ from Belarus.

Zelensky maps out ‘2 to 3 years’ of financial need to fight Ukraine war

Ukraine’s president said that though the war was unlikely to go on for decades, the country still needed Europe’s ‘stable financial support’.

US-North Korea flash summit remains long shot despite Trump’s open offer

Though a meeting with Trump would look good for Kim, the North Korean leader’s focus is on alliances with China and Russia, analysts say.

Nato member Lithuania protests airspace incursion denied by Russia

Two Spanish fighter jets, which had been doing Nato air policing missions, were scrambled and flew out to the area.

Belarusian model reportedly killed in Myanmar went there on her own: Thai police

Tabloids claim Vera Kravtsova was abducted in Bangkok and forcibly brought to Myanmar, where she was tortured and had her organs harvested.

Hong Kong court suspends jail term for Belarusian model who assaulted 2 officers

25-year-old Aliaksandr Buka receives 18-month suspended sentence after injuring officers during a drunken domestic dispute.

Russian attacks on Ukraine’s power grid intensify as winter approaches

Trump said on Sunday he may tell Putin that he could supply Ukraine with long-range Tomahawk missiles if the war is not settled.

Lithuania’s Vilnius airport reopens after suspension over balloons in airspace

European aviation has repeatedly been thrown into chaos in recent weeks by drone sightings and air incursions.

Estonia says Russian fighter jets breached its airspace in ‘brazen’ incursion

The incident involving three MiG-31s comes soon after Russian drones entered fellow Nato member Poland’s airspace and were shot down.

Poland border closure sets up speed bumps on China-Europe railway: analysts

Insiders say closing of Belarus border spells trouble for users of the China-Europe Railway Express, and could put Poland’s transit hub status at risk.

Opinion | Don’t expect Russia’s war on Ukraine to end in its fifth year