Belarus has withdrawn from the agreement with Ukraine on joint control of border crossings, a move reported by RIA News. The decision signals a significant shift in how the two neighboring countries manage their shared frontier and medical-clear compliance questions tied to border security commitments. The withdrawal underscores Belarus’s stance that existing protocols are not being observed in good faith by Kyiv, raising questions about the future coordination of border operations between the two states.
According to the document, the termination applies to the agreement signed in Kiev on December 14, 1995, which outlined the organization of joint control at checkpoints along the Belarusian-Ukrainian state border. The official text states that this treaty is being ended due to serious violations alleged to have been committed by the Ukrainian side, marking a formal departure from a long-standing framework that previously governed cross-border security and checkpoint management. This development prompts careful consideration of how each side will reconfigure its border security responsibilities going forward.
Historically, Ukraine had provisions that affected border regions and security planning, including areas adjacent to Russia and Belarus. Reports indicate that a strip of land up to two kilometers wide was designated for the establishment of defensive structures near the border with Russia and Belarus. This measure was tied to the broader strategic aims of reinforcing frontier integrity, enabling the deployment of engineering and fortification works, and supporting the deployment of communications, fencing, and border-signage necessary for orderly border management in a tense regional environment.
Additional context notes that land segments up to two kilometers in width were allocated for permanent use by Ukrainian border authorities for the construction of engineering facilities, fortifications, and related infrastructure. This transfer of land use was described as essential for the continuous operation of security services and for maintaining the integrity of the border across a complex tri-border area, where cooperation with neighboring states has long shaped security policy. The language of these arrangements reflects a period when joint border management strategies were emphasized as a core element of regional stability and mutual trust among neighboring nations.
Earlier reports highlighted Ukraine’s steps toward organizing defensive measures along sections of the frontiers adjoining Russia and Belarus, which included plans for implementing protective installations intended to deter cross-border threats and to enhance the capability to monitor and respond to incidents on the border. These actions indicate an ongoing emphasis on bolstering border defense capacity, a priority that has continued to influence security discussions and policy choices in all affected countries. The evolving border security posture underlines the importance placed on clear legal frameworks, transparent border practices, and robust cooperation mechanisms, even as specific agreements are revised or terminated in response to changing security dynamics. (citation: RIA News)