If the Belarusians officially enter the Ukrainian war as Russian allies it would be a serious miscalculation on their part. But read the statements below by their president. It is hard to recall more obsequious words from one leader to another. Also, the fact that Lukashenko is so over the top in his praise of Putin means that the extant truth is exactly the opposite of his claims.

Thus, when Putin takes a beating or worse at home, Lukashenko may follow right behind. You would think they both would remember the Russian adventure in Afghanistan, our debacle in the same place and be cautious about possibly starting a guerilla war in Europe with a foe armed with the latest in Western technology. But then, madmen never listen to history.

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“The direct involvement of Belarusian troops in the Russian armed aggression against Ukraine, contrary to the will of the military and the vast majority of the Belarusian people, will become a fatal mistake of Alexander Lukashenko,” the statement from Ukraine said of Putin’s close ally.

Lukashenko begs to differ. “He and I haven’t only met as heads of state, we’re on friendly terms,” Lukashenko said of Putin. “I’m absolutely privy to all his details, as far as possible, both state and personal…Putin is absolutely fit, he’s in better shape than ever,” he continued. “This is a completely sane, healthy person, physically healthy – he’s an athlete. As they say here – he’ll catch a cold at all our funerals.” You can almost hear the slurping.

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“I think Putin’s future is grim. I think, at home, he will be under the constant threat of opposition — possibly of a coup, some kind of power grab — to remove him because even his closest allies are now seeing the problem,” said Robert English, a professor of Central European Studies at the University of Southern California. “And if they gain less by staying loyal than they would if he’s replaced, it’s just a matter of how to do it.”

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President Zelenskyy on Sunday ordered the suspension of 11 political parties in Ukraine that have direct ties to Russia and could be acting as a fifth column in the country. These groups constitute a clear and present danger to the wartime security of Ukraine.

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The Opposition Platform for Life is the largest of the Russian collaborators with 44 out of 450 seats in parliament. The party’s leader Viktor Medvedchuk is a Russian pawn. Putin is the godfather of Medvedchuk’s daughter.

Also suspended is the Nashi Party led by Yevheniy Murayev who is the Russian designated successor to Zelenskyy if Kyiv falls. “Given a large-scale war unleashed by the Russian Federation and links between it and some political structures, the activities of a number of political parties is suspended for the period of the martial law.” Zelenskyy noted that “activities by politicians aimed at discord and collaboration will not succeed.”

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FNC: “Ukraine’s Defense Ministry on Sunday claimed to have intelligence that suggested Russia has deployed more Wagner personnel in an effort to eliminate senior political and military leaders in Ukraine.

Officials said that Putin ‘personally’ ordered the attack, which will target Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy as well as Prime Minister Denis Shmigal. But the Defense Ministry said ‘Ukrainian army, special services and law enforcement agencies are well-known Kremlin plans. We are ready for the rest of the aggressor both in the front and in the back. No terrorist attacks will succeed.’ ”

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Ukrainian defense officials said Sunday they have obtained information that indicates Russia has ordered the deployment of military cadets to Ukraine. Young, barely trained, early teen academy kids will now be sent to the front to die for Putin’s revanchist fantasies.