President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Ukraine first warned Belarus through non-public channels that it must stop helping Russia in the war, including by providing technical support for drone strikes against Ukrainian territory.
Zelenskyy made the remarks in an interview for the “United News” telethon.
According to the president, before making public statements, Ukraine takes non-public steps aimed at de-escalation. He said Belarus had received the relevant information through intelligence and military channels.
“Belarus received the information: stop helping the Russians,” Zelenskyy said.
The president stressed that the issue of relay stations on Belarusian territory is a “long process” that has led to casualties on the Ukrainian side. According to him, the equipment is technically coordinated and helps Russian and Iranian drones strike Ukrainians more accurately.
Zelenskyy said Alexander Lukashenko had received this information and must demonstrate de-escalation not only with words.
“Let him keep his ‘I apologize’ to himself: it has not worked since the first day of the war,” the president said.
According to Zelenskyy, the first step Ukraine expects from Belarus is to end any technical support for Russian attacks.
“Direct support is a relay station. Turn it off, remove it and show us that it has been removed,” he said.
The president noted that since this information had been passed to the Belarusian side repeatedly, Ukraine had moved to the stage of a public signal.
“If he does not remove it, we will remove everything,” Zelenskyy stressed.
He also said Ukraine is calling on Belarus to stop supplying fuel to the Russian army.
“There are no threats here. We are simply saying that we see it. The first steps are always non-public, and the next steps are different,” the president said.
