Zelenskyy demands concrete steps from Lukashenko, not apologies

In an interview with TSN. Tyzhden, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said that self-proclaimed Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko must show concrete steps toward de-escalation. Zelenskyy noted that before making public statements, he had already taken some non-public de-escalation steps and that Belarusian leadership had been informed through intelligence and military channels to stop aiding Russia.

Zelenskyy highlighted the issue of retranslators that adjust Russian drone strikes from Belarusian territory. He emphasized that this is not a new issue and that there have been casualties on the Ukrainian side as a result. "Lukashenko must demonstrate de-escalation beyond words. He can keep his 'I'm sorry' to himself; it doesn't work after the first day of the war," Zelenskyy said.

He outlined specific measures: first, stop all technical support, specifically remove the retranslators and show Ukraine that they are removed. Second, cease fuel supplies to the Russian army. Zelenskyy stressed that this is a signal, not a threat. "If he doesn't remove them, we will. What will happen in a week — either they or we…," he stated.

On June 19, Zelenskyy gave Lukashenko a week to remove the retranslators or Ukraine would do it. On June 20, he reported that four retranslators are installed in Belarus's Gomel and Brest regions and that fuel deliveries from Belarus to Russia had increased 13-fold.

Previously, Zelenskyy said Russia is trying to drag Belarus into the war, possibly to launch an operation against a NATO country. Commander Brovdi ("Madjar"), commenting on the threat, said the military has identified 500 targets in Belarus and called on Lukashenko not to "poke into the eyes." Lukashenko responded by threatening to strike one "very serious" target in Ukraine, then later apologized to Zelenskyy.