May 22, Pozirk. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said on May 21 that Kyiv could take “preventive” action against the leadership of Belarus to deter it from carrying out “aggressive actions” against Ukraine.
Belarusian leader Alaksandar Łukašenka commented on the same day that the Belarusian army “is not going to be dragged into war, there is absolutely no need for it,” the Belarusian defense ministry reported.
“We have the capability to strengthen [security], and we also have the capability to act preventively both against Russian territories, from which threats may emerge, and against the de-facto leadership of Belarus, which must remain on alert — that is, it must clearly understand that there will be consequences for aggressive actions against Ukraine and our people,” Zelensky said in Slavutich while visiting the Kyiv and Chernihiv regions bordering Belarus.
“We remember that in 2022 the [Russian] offensive was also launched from Belarusian territory, and we will not forget it,” he added.
According to Zelensky, Kyiv will increase the number of troops defending the border regions, build additional fortifications and strengthen air defenses.
A week earlier, Zelensky said that Ukrainian intelligence had detected attempts to persuade Łukašenka “to join new Russian aggressive operations.” He warned that plans were being discussed for operations “to the south and north of Belarus — either against Ukraine’s Chernihiv–Kyiv region or against one of the NATO countries.”
“Ukraine possesses details of the conversation between Russia and Belarus,” Zelensky said. “Ukraine will certainly defend itself and its people if Łukašenka makes a mistake and decides to support this Russian intention. I have instructed Ukraine’s defense and security forces to strengthen the relevant sector and present a plan for our response.”
In February 2022, Russia launched a full-scale war against Ukraine, during which the Belarusian authorities supported the Kremlin by allowing Russian troops to attack Ukraine from Belarusian territory on multiple occasions and by supplying arms to Moscow.
