Putin in full control of security bloc and troops in Belarus – Zelensky

March 8, Pozirk. Russian President Vladimir Putin is in full control of the security bloc and troops in Belarus, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said during the “Cinque Minuti” show on the Italian television channel Rai.

Zelensky’s office posted the interview to its YouTube channel today.

Speaking about the Kremlin’s strategies to annex foreign territories, Zelensky said this is done by force of arms or politically.

So far, Putin has been going about Belarus without casualties and blood, he said.

Russia has carried out a “diplomatic occupation” of Belarus, stripping it of its sovereignty, he said.

This is evident from the Russian offensive on Ukraine from Belarus in February 2022 and the missile strikes, Zelensky said.

Alaksandar Łukašenka and his officials openly support the Russian aggression against Ukraine. At the outset of the war, large numbers of Russian troops crossed into Ukraine from Belarus and hit Ukrainian cities with missiles.

In 2023, Moscow and Minsk announced the deployment of Russian tactical nuclear weapons to Belarus. Łukašenka also provided territory for Russia’s Wagner mercenaries.