President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has issued a sharp rebuke regarding the role of the regime of self-proclaimed Belarusian leader Alexander Lukashenko in the war against Ukraine. As reported by Interfax-Ukraine, the Ukrainian leader dismissed Lukashenko’s claims of neutrality and his stated desire to avoid involvement in the armed conflict.
The primary grievance from Kyiv concerns the use of Belarusian territory to facilitate strikes against Ukrainian civilians. Zelenskyy pointed out that Russian technical infrastructure, including transmitters mounted on towers along the border, is currently being used to calibrate fire against Ukrainian residential areas. The President emphasized that Lukashenko’s words about “not wanting to be in the war” carry no weight as long as the infrastructure enabling these attacks remains operational on Belarusian soil.
“Why bother with words about not wanting to be in the war? Let him remove this equipment, let him turn off these transmitters,” Zelenskyy stated. The Ukrainian President set a one-week deadline for these actions to be taken. He underscored that if the Lukashenko regime fails to cease its cooperation with the aggressor, Ukraine will be forced to take decisive measures to protect its citizens. This is a matter of immediate survival for those living in the border regions, as civilian casualties continue to mount.
Beyond military cooperation, Zelenskyy highlighted the issue of fuel supplies. Belarus currently serves as one of the primary providers of petroleum products used by the Russian military. The President expressed confidence that Lukashenko maintains personal control over these supplies and possesses the authority to halt them. By fueling the Russian war machine, the Belarusian regime has effectively made itself an accomplice in the aggression, regardless of attempts to publicly distance itself from the front lines.
With the ongoing intensity of combat operations on the front lines and the constant need to address security threats, Ukraine is demanding a clear shift in policy from its northern neighbor. The ongoing provocations and logistical support provided by Belarus are no longer sustainable in the eyes of the Ukrainian leadership. Zelenskyy’s latest ultimatum signals that the time for diplomatic ambiguity regarding Minsk has passed. Ukraine will no longer tolerate actions that facilitate the destruction of its cities, emphasizing that sovereignty and safety remain the nation’s absolute priorities in the face of an existential threat.