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Belarusian media is reporting that President Alexander Lukashenko, a close ally of Russian President Vladimir Putin, told top Belarusian officials that “Polish and American intelligence” are “preparing a provocation in Poland.”

According to Belta, Lukashenko was quoted in the meeting saying, “Polish and US intelligence are preparing a large-scale provocation against the Polish civilian population, which they will blame on Russia and Belarus. Simultaneously, Warsaw is trying to recruit high-ranking Belarusian officials to replace the current Belarusian opposition figures. They will look for and nurture new figures, loyal to the West and more effective. They will use all methods: from garden-variety bribery and blackmail to threats to the life and health of these people and their loved ones. Anyone can get on their radar.”

According to Lukashenko, this information was obtained from Belarusian and Russian intelligence.

Lukashenko also warned of a potential third world war due to NATO’s position of troops near its borders. He said, “In the immediate vicinity of Belarus and Russia, as part of the alliance’s operations conducted in Europe, approximately 32 thousand soldiers from the contingents of the combined armed forces of NATO and the United States are deployed.”

This comes as Western countries have consistently leveled criticism against the Belarusian president for a variety of issues. These criticisms span the permission granted for Russian military presence on its soil, the hosting of Russian nuclear arms, and the integrity of Belarus’s electoral system, which has been condemned by Western officials as “rigged.”