00:00Russia is publicly denying it's trying to drag a fourth country directly into the war.
00:04But the speculation isn't going away.
00:07Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov rejected U.S. media reports
00:11alleging Russia pressured ally Belarus, including through financial leverage,
00:16to let its territory be used to launch intensified strikes on Ukraine.
00:21The denial comes at a critical moment,
00:23as Russia struggles to defend against Ukraine's escalating long-range drone campaign.
00:28The attacks have already triggered fuel shortages
00:30and an emergency declaration in occupied Crimea, increasing pressure on Moscow.
00:36Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko addressed the reports directly,
00:41saying he personally warned visiting Ukrainian officials not to drag Belarus into the fighting.
00:47He insists Belarus has no intention of joining the war, despite growing regional tensions,
00:52with Russia under increasing military and economic pressure.
00:56questions remain over whether this conflict can stay contained to two countries.
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