Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy visited Slavutych in the north of the country, where he met with the heads of Kyiv and Chernihiv regions. He said Ukraine is strengthening its defence in the northern direction both in terms of protective infrastructure and fortifications and in terms of defence and security forces deployed there.
“This concerns both protective infrastructure — fortifications and other defensive measures — and strengthening the border, which will continue. It also concerns our defence and security forces deployed in this direction — towards Chernihiv and Kyiv from the territory of neighbouring Belarus, which Russia seeks to draw even deeper into this war, and from Russia’s Bryansk region. We have the capabilities to strengthen our defence.”, he said.
He also noted that Ukraine has the capability to act preventively regarding Russian territory from which threats may emerge, and regarding the Belarusian authorities.
“We also have the capability to act preventively regarding Russian territory from which threats may emerge, and regarding the de facto leadership of Belarus, which should remain alert — that is, clearly understand that there will be consequences if aggressive actions are taken against Ukraine, against our people.
We remember that in 2022 the offensive was also launched from the territory of Belarus. We will not forget this. The Armed Forces of Ukraine, law enforcement agencies and our special services know what the threats are and how to respond to them — how to respond fairly, without doubt.”, Zelenskyy stressed.
As previously reported, today Lukashenka expressed readiness to meet with Volodymyr Zelenskyy to discuss bilateral relations.
“If he wants to talk about something, seek advice or anything else, please, we are open to this. At any location — in Ukraine, in Belarus — I am ready to meet with him and discuss issues of Belarusian-Ukrainian relations. And perhaps talk about prospects. For some reason we have things to discuss with Americans, Germans, Poles, Lithuanians and Latvians, but nothing to discuss with Ukraine…”, Lukashenka said.
Adviser to the Ukrainian leader Dmytro Lytvyn responded by saying that Lukashenka’s words have meant nothing since 2022, when Belarus became a staging ground for Russian aggression.
“That is why we follow his actions. Lukashenka has a habit of somewhat clumsily inventing after the fact where an ‘attack’ had allegedly been prepared against him. What is there to talk about?”, he said.
