Maksym Pleshko: Zelensky Warned Lukashenka

What is behind the words of the Ukrainian president about Belarus?

The other day, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky confirmed at a press conference with his Lithuanian counterpart Gitanas Nausėda that Russian troops had launched a counteroffensive in the Kursk region, and also mentioned Belarus.

“The Russians have launched a counteroffensive. Everything is going according to our Ukrainian plan. As for Belarus. We see the accumulation. We have been seeing it for a long time. We are monitoring this process,” Zelensky said.

What is behind these words of the head of Ukraine? The Charter97.org website spoke about this with PhD in Philosophy, head of the Ukrainian Center for Belarusian Communications Maksym Pleshko:

— I see three addressees here: this is a warning for the Belarusian authorities, and a message to Ukrainian society (we see and control the situation), and it is also a signal to international partners.

Ukraine not only sees the concentration of troops on the border, but also knows that the Belarusian army emptied its ammunition depots long ago, giving them to Russia. They were sent to the fronts of the Ukrainian East and South. Also, most of the equipment of the Belarusian army was transferred to the Russian Federation.

We understand perfectly well that both the Belarusian military and the people do not want to fight with Ukraine. They do not see the point or need for this. Therefore, we react to this calmly.

In general, the mood in Ukraine now is: talk less and take it calmly. You know, we have been through so much in recent years that we try to react calmly. This is a routine situation.

On the northern border of Ukraine (where there is a concentration of Belarusian armed forces) and in other areas, there have long been mined, fortified areas. Units are stationed there, which are periodically changed. If an army is gathering somewhere on Belarusian territory, then it is also gathering on the Ukrainian side, but we just do not talk about it. But it is there, ready to defend the border.

Let me emphasize that we know that the Belarusians and the army do not want to fight against Ukraine. The Belarusian government, the Ministry of Defense and other structures also know that if Belarus joins this Putin adventure, the reaction now will be different than in 2022.

Then Ukraine endured, wiping away the blood. Today, Ukraine has enough forces and means to get anything and anywhere. If drones are already flying to the Urals, then the places of the Belarusian military-industrial complex are quite within the zone of destruction. Moreover, the Belarusian military also understands that the border towns of the Belarusian South (Homel, Rechytsa, etc.) are very close to the Ukrainian border.

We do understand the importance of the Mazyr Oil Refinery, and it is within reach of even Ukrainian barrel artillery. Lukashenka also understands this perfectly well and is afraid.

I personally hope that all these moments will pass, the Russian empire will fall apart and Ukraine will have normal, partner relations with Belarus.

But there is another threat. If there are any more exercises, Russian troops will come to Belarus again, then the Belarusian authorities will not be able to control them, they may resort to provocations. Then Ukraine will be forced to respond.

A major threat to the security of Belarus at the moment is the appearance of Russian troops on its territory.

— In Belarus, joint exercises of the Regional Group of Forces with the Russian Federation are planned.

— This is what I am getting at. You understood correctly. This is a rather risky situation. If a large amount of military equipment and weapons appears, it will travel by rail. It is impossible to hide this in today's conditions.

It is in the interests of all of Belarus to create a general mood that it does not need Russian troops. Lukashenka is a “friend” of the world's main aggressor, drones are flying over Belarus, which were launched by Russian forces and which Belarus does not control.

As for the rhetoric about nuclear weapons and “how strong we are,” let Lukashenka’s propagandists turn on their brains and understand that if you have such weapons deployed there and, God forbid, someone moves there, it will be the first target to fire.

Belarus does not need a new Chernobyl or new disasters. Lukashenka is creating a situation where he, as I told you in an earlier interview, runs around Shere Khan like Tabaki the jackal. He exposes Belarus to sanctions, to problems, to attack. Belarus is a military target, after all, where arsenals are located, including nuclear ones. The closer Belarus is to the Russian Federation, the greater the threat of Belarus being drawn into an unnecessary war.

— Does the situation in the Kursk region affect Lukashenka in any way? If we project this situation onto Belarus, will Putin protect him?

— Putin cannot protect himself at the moment. How can he protect Lukashenka? The situation in the Kursk region is very indicative and has affected Belarus and the government. Lukashenka and his entourage are very nervous. They realized that they would be left alone. They began to conduct “exercises”, and show off, and so on. We have been saying for the last few years (and this is in line with what Belarusian volunteers are saying at the front) that the liberation of Belarus will happen through the victory of Ukraine.

We see the situation in the Kursk region, when instability began in Russia, and we will still live to see internal wars begin in the Russian Federation. The Roman Empire was falling apart for several centuries. The Russian Empire has been falling apart since the early 90s, and now is one of the active phases.

It tried to restore itself, but everything has come to the point that it is falling apart. And the Kursk region is the first such signal, a test of what will happen in the future. Therefore, I emphasize, Putin will not protect Lukashenka. He cannot protect himself.

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