Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky reacted skeptically to statements by Alexander Lukashenko that he does not want Belarus to be drawn into the Russian-Ukrainian war. According to Zelensky, Russia will continue pressuring Minsk toward more direct involvement, but Lukashenko, in his view, understands that Ukraine will respond.
Zelensky said that equipment located on Belarusian territory along the border with Ukraine is helping adjust strikes against the Ukrainian population. He said this involves relay devices installed on towers near the border.
“There are relay devices on the relevant towers there. Can he remove them? What is the point of saying he does not want to be in the war? Let him remove this equipment, let him switch off this equipment,” the Ukrainian president said.
Zelensky added that one week would be enough for Lukashenko to remove the relay equipment. He also warned that otherwise Ukraine would do it itself.
“If he does not do it, we will,” Zelensky said.
Earlier in June 2026, Lukashenko said in an interview with Al Arabiya that drawing Belarus into the war between Russia and Ukraine was unacceptable. According to him, both he and Vladimir Putin believe it would bring more harm than benefit. Lukashenko also acknowledged that Belarus is “very vulnerable” to Ukrainian strikes and insisted that Kyiv has “absolutely nothing” to fear from Minsk.
Since April, Zelensky has been saying that military activity in Belarus has increased and warning that Russia may try to pull the country into the war. Lukashenko, while saying he does not want war, had also stated several years ago that he was ready to enter it if Ukraine attacked Belarus.