Russia warns West and Ukraine of 'disastrous consequences' if Kyiv moves against Belarus

FILE - Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskiy inspects fortifications at the border with Belarus in Volyn region, Ukraine, in this handout photo from the Ukrainian Presidential Press Service, July 30, 2024.

Russia warned the West and Ukraine on Friday of "disastrous consequences" if Kyiv moved against close Russian ally Belarus, making clear it would intervene to defend a country where it has deployed tactical nuclear weapons.