‘The gauntlet has been thrown down’: Lukashenko claims Ukraine challenged Belarus, responds by calling Zelensky ‘a nit’
Belarus President Alexander Lukashenko attacked Volodymyr Zelensky while talking about the airfield explosion that took place in Machulishchy on February 25.
Blaming the incident on Ukraine’s president personally, Lukashenko called him a “nit”:
He is a nit, because he keeps running around Belarus, sending in his people, and asking, as I said before, “Let’s sign a nonaggression pact, let’s make a deal, we don’t have any mutual complaints.” And I would say to this, “We’re not planning to attack.” […] And in the meantime…
Returning to the topic of the damaged A-50 aircraft, Lukashenko said: “The gauntlet has been thrown down.” Blaming Ukraine for the souring relations between the two countries, Lukashenko repeated that Belarus doesn’t intend to join the war:
If you think that by throwing down the gauntlet you can embroil us, starting tomorrow, in the war that’s taking place today all over Europe, you’re mistaken.
Lukashenko also threatened “the harshest purges” against Belarusian opposition.
Meduza survived 2024 thanks to its readers!
Let’s stick together for 2025.
The world is at a crossroads today, and quality journalism will help shape the decades to come. Real stories must be told at any cost. Please support Meduza by signing up for a recurring donation.