Ukrainian President Volodimir Zelensky has called on the people of Belarus not to get dragged into Russia’s war against Ukraine. He said in a video address on Sunday that the residents of his neighboring country are “not slaves” to Russia and therefore do not have to serve as “cannon fodder”. “You don’t have to die,” he emphasized.
Belarus is a staunch ally of Russia. On Saturday, Russian President Vladimir Putin offered to convert Belarusian Air Force fighter jets so that they could carry nuclear weapons. “This modernization can be carried out in Russian factories,” he said after his Belarusian colleague Aleksandr Lukashenko asked for it in a TV interview.
Putin also promised on Saturday that he will equip Belarus with Iskander missile systems within months. They have a range of 500 kilometers and can be equipped with both normal weapons and nuclear warheads.
Zelensky warned in his video address on Sunday that the Russian Kremlin is trying to decide everything for Belarus. He called on the people to oppose it.