Lukashenko is an accomplice, but the people are not: Zelensky gives first wartime interview to Belarusian media
Russia is still trying to drag Belarus further into its war against Ukraine, President Volodymyr Zelensky warned in his first interview with Belarusian media since the start of the full-scale invasion. Speaking to Zerkalo, an independent outlet operating in exile, Zelensky discussed his views on Alexander Lukashenko’s regime, Belarusian involvement in the war, and building ties with exiled opposition leader Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya. Meduza shares key excerpts from the interview, translated and abridged for length and clarity.
On relations with Belarus
I always had great respect for Belarus and the Belarusian people. I’ve been to Belarus many times. But honestly, after the war started… It wasn’t just a sense of resentment. We’re on the verge of understanding that it wasn’t just Russia that started the war, but that the Russian Federation has an ally — Belarus. Thank God we’re talking about the Lukashenko regime, not the Belarusian people. Nevertheless, Belarusians must understand that when missiles are flying, Ukrainians are dying. And for [Ukrainians], at this moment, Belarus is an ally of the aggressor — Russia.
On Belarus’s involvement in the war
Belarus knows exactly what’s happening on its territory. It’s no longer possible to say that the missiles flying [at Ukraine] “have been there for a long time and we don’t control the launches,” as Lukashenko told me at the beginning of the full-scale invasion. Now, drone signal relays have appeared on Belarusian territory, and this new technology helps Russian Shaheds hit our people, civilians, and energy system by providing targeting adjustments. And the next step is preparing a site for stationing an Oreshnik [ballistic missile system] in Belarus.
These are all new steps, not “old actions” that were out of Lukashenko’s hands. Now, it definitely depends on him and the [Belarusian] authorities. We are at a point where Belarusians must understand all the risks. Russia has always wanted to drag Belarus into this war so that the Belarusian people and soldiers would fight against the Ukrainians.
On sanctions against Lukashenko
We are now demonstrating through political steps our stance on the fact that he’s being drawn into the war and is helping Putin. But these are exclusively political and economic steps, which do not affect the finances of ordinary Belarusians. This is only about one person. If Lukashenko doesn’t come to his senses and stop, we will continue this policy.
Sanctions policy is the first step. We are currently working on the legal basis for its continuation. This will not only concern Lukashenko but his inner circle, his sons, and so on. And we will monitor all the military aid he gives [to Russia]. He is helping to kill civilians. We have evidence of how the Shaheds entered [Ukraine] from Belarusian territory, thanks to those relay signals; it’s all on maps and recorded on video. The fact is that this is a crime — they aided the aggressor, and civilians died after these strikes.
On responsibility for the war
We’ve always been very careful geopolitically. When we raise resolutions at the U.N., we don’t usually talk about Belarusian aggression. We never allowed ourselves to do this because we believe there are separate issues when it comes to Lukashenko, Belarus, and the Belarusian people.
Some Russians ask: “What’s the difference? Why are we in Russia held responsible for Putin starting the war, but the Belarusians are not?” Because Lukashenko didn’t start the war — Putin did. Lukashenko is an accomplice, but officially, the Belarusian army is not on Ukrainian territory. The Russian army is, and therefore, Russians who pay taxes and thereby support the army, or those who are mobilized into it, are direct criminals. Lukashenko is an accomplice, but for now, the Belarusian people are not. Why “for now”? Because Belarusians are being drawn into this war. We can’t allow this to happen.
On his 2022 phone call with Lukashenko
He called me [at the start of the full-scale invasion] and wanted to talk. We didn’t have the most pleasant conversation, but it happened.
[Lukashenko] apologized, and he was very afraid that we’d launch [retaliatory] strikes. He even said, “Go ahead, strike [the Mozyr oil refinery],” because he didn’t know what we were capable of. I think he realized that they’d failed to “take out” our people, our army, and me personally in the first 24 hours. And once he realized that, he started looking for a chance to communicate with me. I didn’t react right away; I was terribly angry with him and didn’t want to talk. That’s basically how our conversation went.
On Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya
We had met at various international events, but we just had our first official bilateral meeting [in January 2026]. It was a great meeting, and we had a good conversation. It’s really cool to talk to Belarusians — we speak different languages but understand everything perfectly.
I believe we need to strengthen contacts with Belarus — with Sviatlana [Tsikhanouskaya] and with journalists like you. We need to communicate more. I agree with her idea that there should be a Ukrainian special representative for Belarus to coordinate with [Tsikhanouskaya], her team, and other Belarusians who [remain outside] the country for obvious reasons. I promised her we’ll find someone.