Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Sunday evening warned Belarusians to not permit Russian President Vladimir Putin to pull their nation into his warfare towards Ukraine.
“You are being drawn into the war. The Kremlin has already decided everything for you,” Zelensky stated throughout a video handle on Sunday evening. “But you are not slaves and cannon fodder. You don’t have to die.”
Zelensky recommended that Belarus was being drawn into the warfare extra actively than firstly of Putin’s invasion of Ukraine, which started on February 24.
“Your lives are worthless to them,” he continued. “And you cannot let anyone decide what awaits you next.”
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The Ukrainian chief’s remarks got here after Putin advised Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko Saturday that Russia will ship missiles able to carrying nuclear warheads to Belarus within the coming months, Reuters reported.
The information company reported that in a gathering in St. Petersburg, Russia, Lukashenko advised Putin that he was involved in regards to the “aggressive” and “confrontational” actions of neighboring international locations Poland and Lithuania.
Lukashenko additionally reportedly requested Putin for help in response to NATO-led nuclear-armed flights close to the Belarusian border.
Putin stated such a response wasn’t mandatory, however that Russia would switch “Iskander-M tactical missile systems to Belarus, which can use both ballistic and cruise missiles, both in conventional and nuclear versions.”
Putin stated the small print and logistics of delivering the weapons could be mentioned by the protection ministers of Russia and Belarus.
Russia can even assist Belarus improve its Su-25 fighter jets to make them able to carrying nuclear weapons, Putin stated.
“This modernization should be carried out in aircraft factories in Russia and the training of personnel should start in accordance with this,” he stated in a broadcast on Russian tv.
Lukashenko is a detailed ally of Putin, and Belarus has allowed Putin to station Russian troops within the nation and conduct large-scale army drills.
The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine stated on its social media channels that Belarus despatched as much as 20 railcars with ammunition to Russia to assist Putin in his warfare towards Ukraine.
“No signs of the enemy forming offensive groups have been recorded in the Volyn and Polissia areas. According to available information, the leadership of the Republic of Belarus continues to provide military support to the Russian Federation,” it stated in an announcement.
“In particular, another consignment of ammunition of up to 20 rail cars has been sent to the Belgorod region,” the assertion stated.
Zelensky, throughout his video handle on Sunday, accused Putin of sowing “hatred” between Ukraine and Belarus.
“And that is why the Russian leadership wants to involve you, all Belarusians, in the war. It wants to sow hatred between us. A lot depends on the common people of Belarus now.”
He added: “I know that you may not take part in this war. Your lives belong only to you, and not to someone in the Kremlin.”
Newsweek has contacted the overseas ministries of Russia and Belarus.