Peskov: Zelensky’s statements about a Belarusian threat are an attempt at incitement

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov has called incitement the Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky’s claims about an allegedly planned “operation” against Ukraine or “one of the NATO countries” from Belarusian territory.

Minsk also rejected these statements, calling them a provocation.

“Belarus is our ally, and we have a Union State with Belarus, but it is a sovereign state. Therefore, such statements are nothing other than an attempt at further incitement in terms of continuing the war and stoking tensions,” Peskov said (as quoted by Interfax).

Moscow has repeatedly stressed that it has no aggressive plans toward Europe and that it does not intend to go to war with NATO states.

On May 15, Zelensky wrote on his Telegram channel that Ukraine “knows” of “additional contacts between the Russians and Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko, aimed at persuading him to join” the conflict in Ukraine or — “against one of the NATO countries — specifically from Belarusian territory.”

Minsk has repeatedly stated that it does not intend to participate in the military operation in Ukraine. This has been said both by Lukashenko himself and by Belarusian Defense Minister Viktor Khrenin. Khrenin has emphasized, however, that the country is ready to defend its own territory.

Deputy chairman of the standing committee on international affairs of the House of Representatives of the National Assembly of Belarus Oleg Gaidukevich also responded to Zelensky’s words, calling the claims by Ukrainian officials a provocation aimed at prolonging the conflict. In a video address on his Telegram channel, he recalled previous statements by the Ukrainian side.

“So at first, the former foreign minister [of Ukraine, Dmytro] Kuleba said he knew with 100% certainty that a second front was opening, that Belarus was opening some kind of second front and was going to attack Ukraine, and someone else. Then the commander of Ukraine’s drone forces weighed in, also talking about this and threatening Belarus. All these statements are not without reason,” Gaidukevich said.

According to him, Minsk understands the purpose of such statements.

“It is obvious that Belarus has no intention of opening any second front. If Belarus is drawn into a military conflict, all of Europe will be drawn in. That is to say, for Kyiv this is a scenario for prolonging the war. Because no one wants to end it. It means money, it means power, and nobody wants to lose all of that,” the deputy said.

Gaidukevich added that Belarus pursues different goals. “We have always fought for peace,” the parliamentarian explained.