Peskov: Zelensky’s warning about an attack from Belarusian territory is “incitement”

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov dismissed Vladimir Zelensky’s statement that Russia is considering military operations from Belarusian territory against Ukraine or a NATO member state, calling it an attempt at “incitement aimed at prolonging the war and stoking tensions.”

“We do not believe that such a statement deserves any comment. Belarus is our ally; we have a Union State with it. But it is a sovereign state,” Peskov told journalists.

The Kremlin’s reaction came three days after Zelensky published a post on Telegram following meetings with the leadership of Ukraine’s General Staff, military intelligence, foreign intelligence, and security service on May 15. In it, the Ukrainian president stated that Kyiv had recorded new attempts by Russia to draw Belarus even deeper into the war.

“We know that additional contacts took place between the Russians and Alexander Lukashenko, the purpose of which is to persuade him to join new Russian aggressive operations,” Zelensky said.

He also added that “Russia is considering plans for operations to the south and north of Belarusian territory — either against the Chernihiv-Kyiv direction in Ukraine, or against one of the NATO countries directly from Belarusian territory.” According to Reuters, Zelensky said that Ukraine “has details of negotiations between Russia and Belarus,” but provided no specific details.

In response to the perceived threat, Zelensky said Ukraine had already instructed its defense forces to increase combat readiness in the northern Chernihiv and Kyiv regions. Last month he also noted that he had intelligence indicating Russia would again attempt to involve Belarus in the war, which has now lasted more than four years.

Zelensky’s warning came against a backdrop of widespread concern among European countries about Russia’s military ambitions. EU Defense Commissioner Andrius Kubilius stated that Russia could potentially attack a NATO member state within the next two to four years, with the Baltic states considered the most vulnerable. Belarus borders NATO members Poland, Lithuania, and Latvia, and in February 2022 served as a staging ground for Russia’s initial invasion of northern Ukraine.