Lukashenko Did Not Rule Out Belarus' Entry Into The War Against Ukraine
- 21.05.2026, 18:17
The dictator said the regime was preparing for war "on a full program."
Belarus may go to war against Ukraine, but only in one case - if "aggression" is committed against the republic. Such a statement was made by Alexander Lukashenko, commenting on Kiev's warnings about possible involvement of Belarus in hostilities. "It will be dragged in only in one case - if aggression is committed on our territory. And here already... we will defend our Fatherland together from Brest to Vladivostok," said Lukashenko (quoted by BelTA). He added that Minsk "is not going to get involved in the war," as there's "no need for it - neither civil nor military."
"Just in case, we're preparing for the full program. And whether there will be a war or not is not up to us," Lukashenko said.
Lukashenko also expressed readiness to meet with Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky "anywhere in Ukraine or Belarus" to discuss the problems of bilateral relations and prospects. "If he (Zelensky. - Ed.) wants to talk about something, consult or something else, please, we are open for it. At any point - Ukraine, Belarus - I am ready to meet with him and discuss the problems of Belarusian-Ukrainian relations. And, maybe, to talk about prospects. For some reason, we have something to talk about with the Americans, Germans, Poles, Lithuanians and Latvians, but we have nothing to talk about with Ukraine," Lukashenko said.
The day before, the Ukrainian president warned that Russian troops could be preparing an offensive from Belarus or Bryansk region to repeat the attempt to seize Kiev. Zelensky announced the strengthening of the Chernihiv-Kiev direction and said that Kiev was preparing responses to possible scenarios, including expanding the geography of long-range strikes.
On May 15, following a meeting with intelligence and General Staff chiefs, Zelensky said that Russia was making new efforts to involve Belarus more strongly in the fighting. He added that according to Ukrainian intelligence services, additional contacts between the Kremlin and Lukashenko are being recorded, aimed at persuading Minsk to join new aggressive operations. "Russia is considering plans for operations in the southern and northern directions from the territory of Belarus - either against the Chernihiv-Kiev direction in Ukraine or against one of the NATO countries," the Ukrainian president specified. He warned that Ukraine would defend itself if Lukashenko "stumbles and decides to support this Russian intention as well."
In April, Zelensky quoted Ukrainian intelligence as saying that Minsk was already developing roads to Ukrainian territory and equipping artillery positions. Earlier, Zelensky reported about Russia's plans to create bases in Belarus to control long-range drones, while representative of the Air Force of the AFU Yuri Ignat said that the Russians were using Belarusian airspace to fly strike drones.
Lukashenko himself said in early April at a meeting on the results of a comprehensive inspection of the armed forces of Belarus that the country was "preparing for war," and "there can be no peacetime." At the same time, he pointed to the "serious geopolitical situation and threats in close proximity to the Belarusian borders."