Is Minsk going to war?: Zelenskyj speaks clearly to Belarusians

On Saturday, Russia launched an attack on Ukraine from Belarus for the first time in several weeks.

Is Minsk going to war?: Zelenskyj speaks clearly to Belarusians

On Saturday, Russia launched an attack on Ukraine from Belarus for the first time in several weeks. Meanwhile, Kremlin boss Putin announces the delivery of nuclear-capable missile systems to the neighboring country. In Kyiv, there are fears that Moscow could draw Minsk into the war. The Ukrainian President Selsenkyj is now addressing the people of Belarus with an appeal.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has called on the people of neighboring Belarus not to be drawn into Russia's war of aggression in Ukraine. "The Kremlin has already decided everything for you," he said in his evening video address, looking towards Moscow. "But you are not slaves and cannon fodder. You must not die." People should not let others decide for Belarus.

Belarusian ruler Alexander Lukashenko met with Russian President Vladimir Putin again on Saturday. The Kremlin chief announced the delivery of Iskander-M missile systems to Belarus, which can also be equipped with nuclear warheads. A few hours before the meeting, Russia fired rockets at several Ukrainian regions, including from Belarus.

Belarus is a close ally of Russia. At the beginning of the war, Lukashenko made his country's territory available to the Russian troops as a deployment area. According to media reports, wounded Russian soldiers were also treated in Belarusian hospitals.

However, the regime's actions met with resistance from the population. Many Belarusians protested against the war, partisans committed numerous acts of sabotage against the railway infrastructure in order to disrupt the transport of Russian military technology to Ukraine. Hundreds of Belarusians are also fighting in the war zone alongside the Ukrainian army.

"I know that the people of Belarus support us, only us, not the war. And that's why the Russian leadership wants to drag them into a war," said Zelenskyy. At the same time, with a view to Russian attacks, he again called for more weapons. Any delay in arms deliveries to Ukraine is an invitation to Russia to strike again. "We need powerful air defense - modern, effective." There are already agreements with partners, but they have to move faster.