Ukraine has issued a warning to Belarus, indicating a potential military response if the latter does not remove relay equipment from its territory within the next week. President Volodymyr Zelensky has urged Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko, a close ally of Vladimir Putin, to dismantle the equipment used to assist Russian drone strikes on Ukrainian cities.
During a press conference in Kyiv, Zelensky emphasized the urgency of the situation, citing civilian casualties and injuries resulting from the ongoing conflict. He stressed that if Belarus fails to comply, Ukraine will take action independently. This ultimatum could escalate tensions further between Ukraine and Russia, with the latter attempting to involve Belarus in the conflict, a move Lukashenko has resisted thus far.
Zelensky also called on Lukashenko to cease the supply of petroleum products to Russian forces engaged in the conflict, highlighting Belarus’ significant role in supporting the Russian military. Despite not officially joining the war with its troops, Belarus has been a crucial military partner to Russia, providing a base for operations and logistical support.
The recent dispute between the two countries coincided with allegations from Ukraine’s SBU intelligence agency regarding an attack on a Belarusian youth sports team bus in Russia, which resulted in casualties. While Russia claimed it was a drone strike by Ukraine, Zelensky dismissed this as a false flag operation orchestrated by Moscow to incite further conflict.
Despite Lukashenko’s claims of Belarus’ military vulnerability and his reluctance to engage in the war, the situation remains tense. Zelensky’s warnings to Belarus have been met with skepticism from Russian state media, portraying them as threats against Belarus.
As tensions continue to escalate in the region, the fate of Belarus and its involvement in the conflict remains uncertain.