Lukashenko says Belarus “ready to protect population from any aggressor”

Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko has said that Belarus has sufficient resources to protect its population from any external threat.

During a meeting with Ivan Krupko, governor of Belarus’s Gomel region—which borders Ukraine—Lukashenko urged residents not to “worry or be anxious,” adding that “the country has everything necessary to protect its people from any aggressor," Caliber.Az reports per Russian media. 

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov previously stated that Moscow is prepared to defend Belarus if necessary, referring to mutual security commitments under the bilateral treaty.

Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov also said that Russian President Vladimir Putin and Lukashenko are expected to discuss recent Ukrainian demands that Belarus remove signal repeaters allegedly used to guide Russian drone strikes on Ukrainian territory. According to Peskov, the issue will be addressed in upcoming talks between the two leaders.

Earlier, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Lukashenko had been given a one-week deadline to dismantle the equipment in question or face unilateral action by Kyiv. Zelenskyy also accused Russia of attempting to draw Belarus deeper into the conflict, warning that such developments could have broader regional implications, including potential risks for NATO members.

By Sabina Mammadli