Volodymyr Zelensky has rejected Alexander Lukashenko’s apology for recent threats, declaring that the Belarusian leader should keep his „sorry” to himself. The Ukrainian president demanded the dismantling of Russian signal transmitters for drones stationed on Belarusian territory, giving a one-week ultimatum.
In an interview with the program TSN. Tyzhden, Zelensky responded sharply to Lukashenko’s earlier words of regret. The Belarusian dictator had apologized for threats made against Ukraine and its president, speaking to the Arabic-language news channel Al-Arabiya. – I emphasize once again that no military actions from Belarus should be expected, especially from my side – Lukashenko said.
Zelensky dismissed the apology as insincere and ineffective. – Let him keep his 'sorry’ to himself, it doesn’t work since the first day of the war – he stated. The Ukrainian leader made it clear that true regret would require concrete actions, not just words.
Lukashenko’s apology and Zelensky’s conditions
According to reports from EspresoTV, Zelensky’s main demand is the removal of Russian retransmission equipment used to guide drones against Ukrainian targets. Four such transmitters have been identified in the Homel and Brest regions of Belarus. These devices are enabling Russian drone strikes on Ukrainian infrastructure, including energy facilities and railways in the Zhytomyr, Rivne, and Volyn oblasts.
– This is exactly the equipment used to strike Zhytomyr, Rivne, and Volyn oblasts, our energy system, our railway – ordinary cities and our villages. Belarus has time to dismantle this equipment – Zelensky said during the interview.
One-week ultimatum to Belarus
The Ukrainian president warned that if Minsk fails to act, Kyiv will take matters into its own hands. – Let them turn it off, dismantle it, and show us that it has been dismantled. And we will close this matter. Because we have conveyed this to them many times, we are past the stage of public warning. If they do not dismantle it, we will dismantle it, and that’s it. In a week. Either they, or we – he concluded.
The tension escalated after a post by Ukrainian Unmanned Systems Forces Commander Robert Brovdi, who stated at the end of May that Ukraine has already identified 500 targets on Belarus in case Lukashenko joins the war. Lukashenko responded with a veiled threat, saying: – We have one very serious target and its exact coordinates. It is located quite close to Belarus. They understand this too.
Zelensky’s firm stance reflects Kyiv’s unwillingness to tolerate any form of technological support for Russia’s war effort from Belarus. The transmitters allow Russian drones to operate over Ukrainian territory with increased accuracy, contributing to civilian and military casualties. The one-week deadline is now in effect, and all eyes are on Minsk’s next move.
Źródło: Polsat News, Fot. Polsat News
