Russian diplomat amplifies Belarus leader's "don’t poke the bear" advice to Ukraine “Why are you sleeping next to the bear”

On December 17, Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova commented on Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko’s advice to Ukraine “don't poke the bear.”

“I would like to expand on this quote and ask a question: don’t you want to ask yourself why you are sleeping next to the bear? How did you end up there?” Zakharova stated, Caliber.Az reports via Russian media.

She also emphasised that Russia and the European Union had the opportunity to set ambitious goals rather than passively coexist, but Western countries declined to do so.

Earlier, Lukashenko urged Ukraine to establish contact with Russia and “not to poke the bear.” He added that if Ukraine intended to implement certain language policies, it should have done so gradually, “step by step,” rather than simply “shutting the mouths” of Russian-speaking populations. Lukashenko emphasised the need for peace talks (potentially involving U.S. President Trump) and positioned himself as a mediator, while aligning with Russia's narrative that Ukraine bears responsibility for the war's origins.

By Khagan Isayev