On February 18, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky announced the imposition of sanctions against Alexander Lukashenko, the President of Belarus. This decision was made in response to Minsk's support for the Russian army and its involvement in creating military infrastructure for Russia.
Zelensky noted that by mid-2025, Russian troops had installed relay systems in Belarus, allowing them to control strike drones. This significantly increased their ability to strike critical infrastructure in Ukraine, including energy and railway facilities.
Furthermore, the President of Ukraine emphasized that work is ongoing in Belarus to create infrastructure for medium-range missiles of the "Oreshnik" complex. He described this as a clear threat not only to Ukraine but to all of Europe. Zelensky also pointed out that Belarusian enterprises in 2025 supplied critical components and parts for this weaponry, as well as the technology and equipment necessary for missile production.
According to Zelensky, Lukashenko has "long sacrificed the sovereignty of Belarus to maintain his power, helping Russia circumvent international sanctions and justifying its aggression." The President added that the Belarusian leader is now even more involved in expanding and prolonging military actions.
Announcing the new sanctions, Zelensky emphasized that Ukraine will cooperate with international partners to ensure that these measures have a global effect.
