Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy emphasized that Belarus's dependence on Russia is not decreasing - on the contrary, it is deepening and creating additional risks for the entire European continent. He expressed these thoughts on January 25 at a commemorative event in Vilnius for the January Uprising of 1863-1864.
Zelenskyy, comparing Belarus today to the "Russian Governor-Generalship," sharply expressed that the rights of the Belarusian people seem even less than the white spear of Alexander Lukashenko. In his opinion, in 2020 there was an opportunity to change this direction, and such an opportunity may appear again in the future, but the support provided to the Belarusians at that time was insufficient.
The president's words are simple: what was thought to be temporary "silence" will later cost us all dearly. According to Zelenskyy, Russia is launching drone attacks from Belarusian territory, Belarusian industry is serving Russia's war against Ukraine, and trade relations are opening an additional path for Moscow to find the necessary parts for weapons. This brings the threat closer not only to Ukraine, but also to Europe in a broader sense.
At the same time, Zelenskyy addressed the Belarusian people specifically: "you are the people of Europe," emphasizing that one day they will stand shoulder to shoulder with other peoples in a free and peaceful Europe. He stated the importance of supporting the Belarusian opposition and reminded that Europe must take more decisive steps to stop Russian aggression.
Zelenskyy's main conclusion is firm, but hopeful: security must be guaranteed, because this struggle is not just for today - for the peaceful life of children, grandchildren, and future generations. He pointed to the position that "man is important, nations are important, cultures are important" as a European rule, noting that believing in illusions like "reboot" with Russia has become a big mistake.
In short, with this speech, Zelenskyy gave one signal: the issue of Belarus is not "only Belarusian" - it is now becoming a European security frontier. And the best strategy here is not to regret it late, but to act in advance.
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