Ukraine is working to counter threats from Belarus
Ukraine is seeking to legally establish in the international legal framework the position that Belarus is no longer a neutral party in the war against our country. It is, in fact, participating in the war on Russia’s side.
This was stated by Foreign Minister Andriy Sybiga in a comment to the Interfax-Ukraine news agency.
According to the minister, first, this involves building a body of evidence for international institutions. Ukraine is documenting specific actions by Belarus—from providing territory for Russian troops and missile launches to logistical and infrastructural support—as elements of complicity in armed aggression. This is important for further proceedings under international law, particularly in the context of holding the complicit state accountable.
Second, this position is directly linked to the right to self-defense enshrined in the UN Charter. Ukraine emphasizes that if Belarusian territory is used to conduct hostilities against it, this expands the scope of legitimate self-defense, allowing such threats to be considered part of a single theater of military operations. This is also significant for justifying Ukraine’s actions on the international stage.
Third, legally establishing Belarus’s involvement has a political effect—it deepens the international isolation of Alexander Lukashenko’s regime and complicates his position in negotiations with Western countries. In effect, this shifts Belarus from the category of “Russia’s ally” to that of “accomplice to aggression” in international discourse.
In a broader context, this strategy also aims to lay the groundwork for future reparations and compensation mechanisms, where responsibility can be attributed not only to Russia but also to states that facilitated the war.
Recall that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated from Slavutych that Ukraine is ready to take preemptive action in the event of threats from Belarus and Russia’s border regions. According to him, the situation in the northern direction requires additional strengthening of defenses and attention to community safety. The president also separately warned the Belarusian leadership about the possible consequences of any aggressive steps.
Alexander Lukashenko stated that he is allegedly ready to visit Ukraine and discuss relations with Volodymyr Zelenskyy. In Kyiv, the reaction to such statements was as restrained and firm as possible, with officials reminding him of Belarus’s role in the war.
