Zelenskyy says Belarus has one week to remove equipment he says aids Russian attacks on Ukraine
The Facts
- Zelenskyy said Lukashenko has one week to remove or disable equipment in Belarus that Ukraine says is used by Russia in attacks on Ukraine, and said Ukraine would act if Belarus does not.
- Zelenskyy said the equipment includes relay or communications stations located in Belarus near the Ukrainian border.
- Zelenskyy said the equipment is being used to help guide or adjust Russian drone or missile attacks on Ukrainian civilians or cities.
- Zelenskyy made the remarks at a news conference in Kyiv held with Honduran President Nasry Asfura.
- Zelenskyy tied his warning to Lukashenko's statements that Belarus does not want to be drawn into the war, saying Belarus should prove that through actions rather than words.
- The episode underscores Belarus's potential role in the war beyond rhetoric, because Ukraine says Russian attacks are being supported from Belarusian territory.
- It remains unclear what action Ukraine would take if the equipment is not removed, and Reuters said it could not independently verify Zelenskyy's claims about the stations.
How left and right are reading this
- Both agree
- Belarus cannot plausibly claim distance from the war if equipment on its territory is helping Russian attacks on Ukraine; in both framings, Lukashenko’s words matter less than whether that support is actually removed or disabled.
- They split on
- Less a disagreement than a question of emphasis: the immediate danger to Ukrainian civilians from attacks Ukraine says are being aided from Belarus, versus the test of whether Belarus truly controls and takes responsibility for what happens on its own soil.
Context
What equipment is Zelenskyy talking about?
Zelenskyy said the issue is relay or communications equipment in Belarus, including stations near the Ukrainian border, that Ukraine says helps Russia steer or adjust attacks on Ukraine Azeri - Press Infor…,SCMP,Deutsche Welle. A Ukrainian defense source cited by RBC-Ukraine said the relays help coordinate Shahed drone attacks and that Belarusian communications systems are also being used РБК-Украина.
Why is Belarus part of this story?
Zelenskyy said Belarusian territory is being used in ways that support Russian attacks, and he argued that this contradicts Lukashenko's statements that Belarus does not want to be pulled into the war ZN.UA,Reuters. Separate reporting also notes that Lukashenko recently apologized for earlier remarks about Zelenskyy and said Belarus would not enter the war BBC,Deutsche Welle.
What is still unknown?
It is not clear whether Belarus will remove the equipment or what Zelenskyy meant operationally when he said Ukraine would act itself if Minsk does not Guardian,Reuters. Reuters also said it could not independently verify the claim that the stations in Belarus are being used to help direct attacks on Ukraine SCMP,Reuters.
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