Zelenskyy Issues One-Week Ultimatum to Lukashenka Over Drone-Guidance Equipment
Poinews.com – President of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, has issued a one-week ultimatum to Belarusian leader Alexander Lukashenka, demanding the removal of relay equipment along the border that he claims is being used to guide Russian drone strikes. This announcement comes as tensions between Ukraine and its eastern neighbor escalate, with Zelenskyy asserting that Belarus’s involvement in facilitating attacks has intensified civilian casualties. The ultimatum was delivered during a joint media briefing in Kyiv, where Zelenskyy also welcomed the visiting president of Honduras, Nasry Asfura, to underscore the global dimension of the conflict.
Urgency Behind the Ultimatum
“There are relay stations on the towers. Can he take them down? What’s the point of saying he doesn’t want war? Just take down that equipment; just shut it down,” Zelenskyy declared. “I think a week would be enough for him to do this. And the reason I say a week is because right now, every day, our civilians are dying and children are being wounded because of this. If he doesn’t do it, we will.”
The call for immediate action follows a surge in Russian aerial assaults, which have caused significant damage and loss of life in Ukrainian territories. In recent days, at least 11 civilians were killed across multiple cities, with the 11th-century Dormition Cathedral in Kyiv suffering extensive structural harm. On Saturday, a guided bomb struck a residential building in Kharkiv’s Kholodnohirskiy district, resulting in one fatality and nine injuries, including a child. Zelenskyy’s warning underscores the urgency of halting these attacks, as he seeks to hold Belarus accountable for its role in enabling them.
Historical Context of Belarus’s Role
Belarus has long been a strategic partner for Russia in its military campaigns against Ukraine. Since the invasion in 2022, the country has provided logistical support, hosted nuclear weapons, and allowed the use of its territory for launching attacks. Recent joint military exercises involving Russian nuclear forces have further highlighted the deepening alliance between the two nations, raising concerns among European NATO members about the potential for broader conflict. Zelenskyy’s ultimatum is seen as a direct challenge to this cooperation, aiming to pressure Lukashenka into severing ties with Moscow’s operations.
