Фото: МИД
Belarus’ Permanent Representative to the OSCE Andrei Dapkiunas sharply criticized Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s ultimatum during a meeting of the OSCE Permanent Council, calling on Ukraine’s allies to “keep their Kyiv pets under control.”
Dapkiunas was responding to the ultimatum issued by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to Aliaksandr Lukashenka, demanding that Belarus stop operating relay transmitters allegedly used to guide Russian drones. On Wednesday, Zelenskyy said those devices were no longer operating.
“A week ago, inspired by provocative discussions with the unauthorized European ‘troika’ and the global Group of Seven, the head of Ukraine’s de facto leadership issued an ultimatum to Belarus. For the first time in four and a half years since the start of the military operation in Ukraine, the man who came to office promising the Ukrainian people that he would normalize relations with Russia has openly threatened to use military force against a country that is not a party to the conflict.
In recent days, the whole world has been trying to appreciate the apt description ‘Mr. Bean on crack.’ The tragedy is that, in this case, what is ridiculous does not provoke laughter. Rather, it is laughter through tears. In Belarus, if anyone still had them, the last illusions have disappeared that the neighboring state is governed by responsible statesmen who genuinely care about the well-being of their people,” he said.
“Today, as three weeks ago, when Belarus raised before the Permanent Council the issue of the state glorification in Ukraine of nationalists who collaborated with the Nazis and were involved in mass killings, the Belarusian side is not addressing the delegation of Ukraine.
They will not hear us there. Just as Zelenskyy ignored the appeal by the President of Poland to reverse his decision to name one of Ukraine’s military units after the so-called Heroes of the UPA. The public relations gesture by a number of current and former Ukrainian officials who returned Polish state decorations in solidarity with Zelenskyy is not evidence of Ukraine’s sovereign strength. It is a shameful sign of a soulless and corrupt system,” he added.
According to Dapkiunas, Ukraine’s leadership does not care that the UPA is a symbol of “bloodthirstiness, murder and barbarism” for many people.
“Our Western colleagues are always uncomfortable when Belarus, Russia and dozens of other states speak about the need to combat the resurgence of neo-Nazism. Will you continue to insist that our concerns are imaginary? Kyiv speaks of a threat from Belarus, yet when Belarus called for an assessment of a Ukrainian drone attack on a bus carrying Belarusian children in Bryansk region, the Ukrainian authorities could think of nothing better than to resort to the last argument of cunning tricksters: ‘It wasn’t me, and it’s not my horse,'” he said.
Dapkiunas called on Ukraine’s allies to influence the country’s leadership, accompanying his appeal with remarks suggesting the possible use of military force against those countries.
“Today we are not addressing the authorities of Ukraine. We are addressing the authorities of the dozens of states that are preventing the conflict in Ukraine from subsiding. We issue a serious warning to people who are not under the influence of psychostimulants, to people who have not lost the ability to think, to people who genuinely care about the well-being of their nations. The latest stunt by Ukraine’s de facto leader is capable of creating an extremely dangerous precedent. According to Zelenskyy’s own logic, all forms of direct and indirect military support for Ukraine in its conflict with Russia by members of various coalitions — Ramstein and the so-called coalition of the willing — could, if you remain indifferent and silent, de facto become grounds for the use of military force against those providing such support. Have you thought about this? Is this what you want?” he said.
He said his remarks were directed not at the leadership of the European Union, whose position he said was already clear, but at individual EU member states.
“Our question is addressed to the states of Europe that consider themselves sovereign and have not lost the ability to defend their national interests. Whether the de facto leader of Ukraine makes his provocative statements with your consent or without consulting you, we do not know. What is important, however, is that Ukraine’s leadership today poses not only a threat to Belarus. It poses a direct and obvious threat to the security of your countries,” he said.
Dapkiunas then compared Ukraine’s leadership to a dog.
“In most countries, a person is responsible for the harm caused by their animal. If a dog bites someone, it is not the dog but its owner who bears civil, administrative or even criminal responsibility. Punishment is inevitable. You have raised, pampered, cherished and supported your pet in every possible way. You consciously chose to be captivated by a ‘hero’ who undoubtedly values his place in history but will readily sacrifice your interests, your concerns and your anxieties.
It is easy to be captivated. The disappointment that comes when it becomes clear that the emperor has no clothes can be very painful. Think carefully about the meaning of the proverb that the President of Belarus recently addressed to Zelenskyy: ‘As they sing, so they bury.’ It is far deeper than it may seem at first glance.
Dear friends of Ukraine’s leadership (but not of Ukraine), for the sake of your own security and well-being, keep your Kyiv pets under control and, while there is still time, think, dear colleagues, think,” Dapkiunas concluded.
Dapkiunas recently made another confrontational statement at the OSCE, in which he threatened the use of nuclear weapons.