Zelensky sounds alarm, tells NATO, 'you're next' as Putin tests Sarmat missile

Ukraine has sounded a new alarm over Russia’s next move, with President Volodymyr Zelensky warning that Moscow could be preparing a wider military escalation using Belarus as a launchpad. He alleged that Russia is trying to drag Belarus deeper into the war, claiming Moscow may be weighing plans to strike either northern Ukraine or even a NATO member state from Belarusian territory. With Belarus sharing borders with Poland, Lithuania and Latvia, the warning has triggered fresh anxiety across NATO’s eastern flank. Ukrainian intelligence says it has tracked new contacts between Russian officials and Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko aimed at involving Minsk in fresh “aggressive operations.” Kyiv has already ordered its defence forces to reinforce security in the north and prepare contingency plans for the Chernihiv and Kyiv regions. The alarm comes as reports suggest the United States has abruptly cancelled a planned deployment of 4,000 troops to Poland, adding to unease inside the alliance. Meanwhile, Belarus continues to host Russian forces, tactical nuclear weapons and advanced missile systems, deepening fears that the country could become a key staging ground in any future escalation. This video breaks down Zelensky’s claims, NATO’s concerns and what a Belarus front could mean for European security.