Zelenskyy: I give Lukashenka a week

Volodymyr Zelenskyy. Photo: Sean Gallup / Getty Images

Volodymyr Zelenskyy reacted to Lukashenka's apologies, who stated that he had "overdone it" regarding him, and now assures that Belarus will not enter the war.

Zelenskyy said that personal words can be forgiven, but not Belarus's participation in strikes on Ukraine.

The President of Ukraine noted that Lukashenka governs a country that is Ukraine's neighbor: "Security at the border is very important for us," he says.

Therefore, Zelenskyy explains, if Lukashenka says that he does not want to be involved in this war, "he must be honest, at least with his own people."

"Because it's not him who might be drawn into the war, it's his entire country that might be drawn in. Drawn in by Russia. They have been doing this since the first days of this war, that's a fact," Zelenskyy said.

He mentioned the beginning of the full-scale war when missiles flew from Belarus.

"And then he also called and apologized, and said: 'I didn't control it, Russia acted on its own land.' And, of course, I don't believe that, but... but he already spoke about it," the President of Ukraine assures.

He argues that even now, Russia will continue to push Belarus into this war. But Lukashenka now already understands "that Ukraine will respond."

"No need for extra words. Today, he has repeaters on his towers. Russian repeaters, Belarusian — what difference does it make to us? On his territory, along two regions bordering Ukraine, there is equipment that adjusts fire on the Ukrainian population. Specifically, the population! We don't have such a strong front there right now, where Ukraine and Belarus are. Civilians are being killed there. There are repeaters on the relevant towers. Can he remove this?

Why the words that he doesn't want to be involved? Let him remove this equipment, let him turn off this equipment. I think a week will be enough for him to do that. Because... why do I say a week? Because every day our civilians are dying because of this, children are wounded. If he doesn't do it, we will," Zelenskyy said.

He also drew attention to the Belarusian oil refining industry.

"We are doing everything so that the Russians don't have the opportunity to sell oil and, accordingly, supply diesel and oil to their army. Because all of this is being used against us.

Today, he is the main supplier or one of the main suppliers for the Russian army. Specifically Lukashenka, specifically Belarus. Can this be stopped? I am sure that it is within his power, and it is he who controls it."

Zelenskyy also mentioned the drone strike on a Belarusian bus in Russia.

"Well, everyone has already admitted, both international experts and, it seems to me, the Russians also admit it... or, let's say, not openly, that this strike was not ours. How is this connected? Very simple: the Russians will carry out many different provocations to involve the people of Belarus in this war," he added.

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