Seviarynets on Zelensky's ultimatum: In a couple of days, we could find ourselves in a situation we recently considered unlikely

Politician and former political prisoner Pavel Seviarynets commented on Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky's ultimatum to Lukashenka.

"We read that Lukashenka is going on a long foreign trip and assures that there is nothing to worry about. But I see a person who, facing potential danger, seems to be already preparing for a different scenario," he said during the presentation of his book.

"And it is very possible that in just a few days, we will find ourselves in a situation that we recently considered highly unlikely. This could be war. This could be the collapse of the regime. This could be an attempt at an even deeper absorption of Belarus by Russia. Today, none of these scenarios seems impossible anymore. In the best-case scenario, we will have to prepare to build a truly independent Belarus. In the worst-case scenario, Belarusians inside the country may have to face what Ukrainians have already experienced: war, anti-Russian resistance, and the struggle for their land.

But no matter what scenario awaits us — the best, the worst, or an intermediate one — today Belarusians need two things. First, prayer and inner resilience. Second, readiness for great trials and great responsibility. Because history might knock on the door much sooner than we expect.

And if war awaits us, and if freedom suddenly comes — and history knows many examples where seemingly unshakeable regimes like Putin's or Lukashenka's collapsed in a matter of hours — we will still have to take on great responsibility. Moreover, we, Belarusians abroad, can do much more today than we often imagine. Here, in Lithuania and other countries, we have more opportunities for organization, for supporting each other, for working for the future of Belarus. And therefore, a special responsibility falls on us. So, dear friends, we now need more cohesion and more unity," Pavel says.

On June 19, Volodymyr Zelensky issued an ultimatum to Alyaksandr Lukashenka — within a week, dismantle equipment on communication masts in the Homel and Brest regions that allows the Russian army to control kamikaze drones deep into Ukrainian territory. In case of refusal, the Ukrainian president stated that Ukraine would destroy these repeaters independently.

Lukashenka reacted to this on June 23 — urged the residents of Homel region not to worry about the ultimatum and announced that he was going abroad for a long time.

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