Zelenskyy Issues Ultimatum to Lukashenko: Remove Russian Equipment Within a Week

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has warned Alexander Lukashenko to dismantle Russian military relay equipment on Belarusian soil within one week or face direct Ukrainian intervention against those targets.

Zelenskyy’s Ultimatum to Minsk

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated that if Alexander Lukashenko claims he does not want to be dragged into the war, he should be honest with his own people. Zelenskyy emphasized that Russia could drag the entire country into the conflict, regardless of Lukashenko’s claims.

Zelenskyy noted that rockets have been fired from Belarus since the first days of the war, killing both children and adults. He recalled that Lukashenko previously called him to claim he had no control over the situation, an explanation the Ukrainian leader dismissed as unbelievable.

Demands for Dismantling Military Assets

The Ukrainian president highlighted that Belarusian masts currently host both Russian and Belarusian signal relays used to coordinate fire against Ukrainian civilians. He challenged Lukashenko to dismantle this equipment or turn it off if he truly wishes to avoid participation in the war.

Zelenskyy set a one-week deadline for these actions, citing the daily loss of civilian lives and injuries to children. He warned that if Lukashenko fails to remove this military infrastructure, Ukraine will take the necessary measures to destroy it themselves.

Lukashenko’s Stance on Involvement

In a recent interview with Al-Arabiya, Alexander Lukashenko denied wanting to get involved in the war, claiming that any Belarusian participation would bring more harm than good. He stated that Vladimir Putin shares the view that such a move is unacceptable.

Lukashenko expressed concerns that Belarus is highly vulnerable to military strikes. He claimed that 500 potential targets, including critical production and logistics infrastructure, could be attacked by Ukraine, and noted that Belarus lacks the capacity to defend such an extended front line.

Sanctions and Military Support

Kyiv previously imposed sanctions on Lukashenko in February for hosting drone control stations that facilitate Russian attacks. Additionally, the Polish Institute of International Affairs has highlighted that Belarusian enterprises provide significant support to the Russian arms industry, acting as a crucial element of Belarus’s involvement in the conflict.