The land-locked Eastern European country is a close ally of Russia.

Belarus allowed Russia to launch the northern prong of its Feb. 24 attack on Ukraine from its territory.

In February, a U.S. defence official had said that Belarus was preparing to send its soldiers into Ukraine in support of the Russian invasion, perhaps within a week.

The U.S. said it amid mounting concern about Minsk’s military preparations.

Now there is increasing evidence that Minsk may be moving towards becoming an explicit participant in the war.

Belarus has also announced it was revoking its non-nuclear status after a referendum, allowing Russian weapons to be placed in-country.

The move provoked rare protests in the country.

In mid-February, the European Union’s (EU) foreign affairs chief, Josep Borrell, said the Belarusian president, Alexander Lukashenko, was allowing his country to become a Russian satellite state.

And on a Sunday night the U.S. official said: “It’s very clear Minsk is now an extension of the Kremlin.”