{"id":192062,"date":"2026-06-16T15:06:10","date_gmt":"2026-06-16T12:06:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/pozirk.online\/en\/news\/192062\/"},"modified":"2026-06-16T15:14:59","modified_gmt":"2026-06-16T12:14:59","slug":"lukasenka-soft-pedaling-on-ukraine-because-after-realizing-risks-envoy-says","status":"publish","type":"articles","link":"https:\/\/pozirk.online\/en\/news\/192062\/","title":{"rendered":"\u0141uka\u0161enka soft-pedaling on Ukraine after realizing risks, envoy says"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

June 16, Pozirk.<\/em> <\/strong>Alaksandar \u0141uka\u0161enka softened his rhetoric toward Kyiv and publicly apologized to President Volodymyr Zelensky because he understood the possible consequences of his earlier statements, the Ukrainian foreign ministry\u2019s special envoy for relations with Belarusian pro-democracy forces, Yaroslav Chornohor, told Ukrinform<\/em>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Chornohor suggested that \u0141uka\u0161enka had understood the \u201csignals\u201d Ukraine sent through \u015aviat\u0142ana Cichano\u016dskaja\u2019s recent visit to Kyiv as well as through interviews given by President Zelensky and Foreign Minister Andriy Sybiha, namely, that Ukraine is \u201cconcerned about the situation in Belarus and its absorption by Russia.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cApparently \u0141uka\u0161enka has realized that the empty bravado he allowed himself toward Ukraine could have consequences, so he has essentially backed off, recalling these episodes in the interview and asking for forgiveness.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Asked whether \u0141uka\u0161enka\u2019s assurances that he has no intention of attacking Ukraine can be trusted, Chornohor replied that any statements should be treated critically, and that \u201cBelarus\u2019 independence is severely limited by Russian influence.\u201d It is possible that \u0141uka\u0161enka personally has no plans to attack Ukraine, but if Vladimir Putin orders the Belarusian army to join the war, the military will carry it out through its commanders, he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Chornohor warned that for \u0141uka\u0161enka\u2019s regime participation in the war against Ukraine would be \u201cpolitical or even physical suicide,\u201d which he said does not mean Belarus would not enter the war if Moscow made such a decision.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Noting that \u0141uka\u0161enka\u2019s remarks were made in an interview with Al Arabiya<\/em> English, Chornohor suggested that \u0141uka\u0161enka does not coordinate his every remark with the Kremlin and may be sincerely reluctant to go to war. The reason is that \u0141uka\u0161enka has \u201ccorrectly identified the risks: in the event of any escalation, the war would spill over into Belarusian territory, and he would lose at least half of his economic potential. And given modern military technologies \u2014 drones, missiles \u2014 there is no need to send troops directly to inflict damage on \u0141uka\u0161enka\u2019s regime,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Chornohor emphasized that Ukraine has no intention of starting a war with Belarus.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cBut if a threat arises there, we will simply eliminate it remotely,\u201d he warned. \u201cI think \u0141uka\u0161enka understands this danger for himself, which is why he decided to walk back his previous statements and thus slightly make peace with Ukraine and defuse tensions.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In an interview given to Al Arabiya<\/em> English on June 12, \u0141uka\u0161enka appeared to walk back a thread on his earlier remarks regarding Volodymyr Zelensky. \u201cMaybe I went too far somewhere,\u201d \u0141uka\u0161enka said. \u201cIf Volodymyr Oleksandrovych took offence, I apologize to him for these words.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Speaking in Astana, Kazakhstan on May 29, he attributed to Zelensky threats against \u201c500 targets\u201d in Belarus, including its leadership, that in fact had come from Ukrainian drone forces commander Robert Brovdi, and himself escalated the rhetoric by warning that Belarus had \u201cone very serious target, with precise coordinates,\u201d situated very close to Belarus.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u0141uka\u0161enka, on May 29, dismissed Zelensky\u2019s alleged remarks as \u201cchatter\u201d and suggested they had been made after the Ukrainian leader \u201csmoked something or injected himself with something,\u201d echoing a Russian propaganda trope. His comments were widely interpreted as hinting at a possible assassination of the Ukrainian president.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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