NATO Official: Belarus Does Not Currently Intent To Join War

Comments from a "senior NATO official" hitting newswires as the NATO defence ministerial continues in Brussels, Belgium.

• NATO official per Reuters: "We assess that Minsk does not currently intend to join the fight [with Russian against Ukraine]."
• The comments follow speculation that Russia has moved troops to the Belarussian border with Ukraine. The border is close to the Ukrainian capital Kyiv and was one of the points of entry for Russian troops in the initial invasion.
• On the Russian partial mobilisation of reservists: "I don't know how long it will take Russia to mobilise 300,000 troops, could be at least a few months."
• On military hardware: "Russia has depleted a significant portion of its precision guided ammunition. Russia's military industry is suffering from sanctions, they do not have the capability to reconstitute all kinds of ammunition of weapons systems."
• Ukraine Contact Group meeting is underway with a presser from US Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin and Chiefs of Staff Chair Mark Milley to take place in 90 mins. Livestream: https://www.defense.gov/News/Live-Events/#/?currentVideo=30214
• The group is expected to announce an increase in missile defence systems for Ukraine, a move which will prompt backlash from Moscow who claimed this week that such provisions will prolong the war.