Ukraine imposes sanctions on Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko for supporting Russia’s war, citing drone attacks and military deployments.
KYIV: Ukraine has imposed a new package of sanctions directly targeting Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko. The measures vow to intensify countermeasures against Minsk for its assistance to Russia’s war effort.
President Volodymyr Zelenskiy announced the decision, stating Ukraine would “significantly intensify countermeasures against all forms of (Lukashenko’s) assistance in the killing of Ukrainians”. The Belarusian presidency did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Zelenskiy detailed that Belarus had aided Moscow’s extensive drone attacks on Ukraine. He stated Minsk allowed Russia to deploy a system of relay stations on its territory to control attack drones.
“The Russians would not have been able to carry out some of the attacks, particularly on energy facilities and railways in our regions, without such assistance from Belarus,” Zelenskiy said. His order also formally bans Lukashenko from entering Ukraine.
Belarus served as a key staging ground for Russia’s initial invasion in 2022. The two countries share a border of over 1,000 kilometres with Ukraine.
The new sanctions are seen as largely symbolic, as Lukashenko is already under extensive U.S. and European sanctions. Zelenskiy added that Ukraine would work with partners to ensure the measures have a “global effect”.
Zelenskiy cited more than 3,000 Belarusian businesses providing supplies for Russia’s war, including missile components. He also referenced Minsk’s plans to host Russia’s Oreshnik intermediate-range ballistic missile system.
Russia released video in December of what it said was the deployment of the Oreshnik missile system in Belarus. Lukashenko confirmed the missile had been deployed and entered active combat duty at that time.
The move comes after U.S. President Donald Trump granted limited sanctions relief to three Belarusian potash companies last December. This followed Minsk’s release of 123 political prisoners.
One former prisoner, Maria Kalesnikava, urged European countries to engage Lukashenko in dialogue. She warned that failing to do so would only strengthen Russian influence over Belarus.
The Sun Malaysia
