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Zelensky Steps Up Threats Against Belarus for Aiding Drone Attacks
The New York Times • • world
Key Points:
- Since Russia's invasion partly launched from Belarus, Ukraine initially maintained cautious diplomatic relations with Belarus and President Aleksandr Lukashenko, keeping communication open.
- In early 2024, following Russian drone strikes near the Belarus-Ukraine border, President Volodymyr Zelensky adopted a more confrontational stance, ordering strikes on Belarusian signal relay stations used by Russia.
- Zelensky invited Belarusian opposition leader Svetlana Tikhanovskaya to open an office in Kyiv and publicly threatened further attacks on Belarusian relay stations if Lukashenko did not disable them.
- Zelensky announced that the relay stations had been turned off temporarily, signaling a shift in Ukraine's regional posture rather than a direct response to an immediate Belarusian military threat.
- Analysts view Ukraine’s tougher approach as part of its broader strategy, supported by successful long-range attacks on Russia’s oil infrastructure, reflecting an evolving regional dynamic.
