Обсуждение: Belarusian television chief Zimowski dismisses as ungrounded Russia"s call for support

i would keep it to closer to the source text:

... were at a distance allowing visual or may be even verbal contact...

(they might have never looked at or even spoken to each other)

... belarus sees russia as a historical and permanent ally, while russia treats belarus as an ally transitorily.... in practice russia makes it clear.... offended that they have been left alone...