Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy stated that he expects Belarusian leader Alexander Lukashenko to remove military equipment used by Russia against Ukraine within a week. Zelenskiy pointed out that Russian forces used signal relay stations in Belarus to direct attacks on Ukrainian civilians and warned that if Lukashenko does not act, Ukraine will take measures.
Zelenskiy highlighted Belarus’s role in supplying oil to Russia, arguing that Lukashenko has the power to stop this support for the Russian military. He expressed confidence that Lukashenko can take action to end his involvement in the conflict. He emphasized that Ukraine has been increasing its attacks on the Russian oil sector to weaken Russia’s war efforts.
Zelenskiy has previously warned that Russia intends to involve Belarus more deeply in the war in Ukraine. Belarus was used as a launching point for Russian attacks when the invasion began in February 2022. Western nations have largely isolated Belarus due to its poor human rights record, which includes the imprisonment of political opponents. In response, Lukashenko has released some opponents to strengthen ties with the United States.
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya, the main opposition leader from Belarus, supported Zelenskiy’s strong stance against Lukashenko, stating that dictators should be dealt with from a position of strength. She urged Lukashenko to prove his desire for peace through actions, such as stopping support for Russia and engaging in dialogue with the Belarusian people.
Currently, Belarus remains a close ally of Russia, facilitating military operations against Ukraine.
With information from Reuters
