Ukraine news latest – Fears growing in Kyiv that Belarus could join Moscow’s invasion as Putin meets with Lukashenko

AS Vladimir Putin visited Belarus today, fears grew in Kyiv that Moscow could draw its closest ally into a new ground offensive in Ukraine. Putin spent the day in Minsk, along with his defence and foreign ministers and Belarus President Alexander Lukashenko. Ukrainian joint forces commander Serhiy Nayev said he believed the visit would address “further aggression against Ukraine and the broader involvement of the Belarusian armed forces in the operation against Ukraine, in particular, in our opinion, also on the ground”.  Lukashenko has repeatedly said his nation, which relies heavily on Moscow for support, will not enter the war. However Ukraine’s president Volodymyr Zelensky warned that Russia could be planning another major ground offensive in the new year and he was ready for “all possible defence scenarios” against Putin and his ally. Read our Ukraine-Russia live blog below for the latest news…