Lavrov threatens to protect Belarus with "full range of measures"

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov has said that Russia is ready to apply all mechanisms provided for under the union treaty to ensure the security of Belarus and the Union State. [The Union State, or Union State of Russia and Belarus, is a supranational union consisting of Belarus and Russia, with the stated aim of deepening the relationship between the two states through integration in economic and defence policy - ed.]

Source: Russian news agency Interfax, citing Lavrov; Kremlin-aligned Russian news agency RIA Novosti

Details: Speaking at a roundtable dedicated to the settlement of the war in Ukraine, Lavrov commented on statements by President Volodymyr Zelenskyy regarding Belarus. The Russian foreign minister claims these statements are aimed at drawing Belarus into the war and expanding the geography of hostilities.

Quote: "This is clearly aimed at drawing Belarus directly into the conflict and expanding the geography of hostilities, thereby complicating the possibilities of settling the conflict by political and diplomatic means."

Details: Lavrov also recalled the treaty between Russia and Belarus on security guarantees within the Union State, which, he said, entered into force in March 2025.

Quote: "If necessary, we are ready to apply the full range of measures provided for under the treaty to ensure the security of our ally and, of course, the security of the Union State."

More details: Lavrov did not specify what measures Russia has in mind.

Lavrov also separately commented on Zelenskyy, calling him a "Führer": "A Führer is a Führer. He was appointed to the role of Führer, having been taken from amateur theatre, but, you see, this image turned out to be contagious."

Background:

• Zelenskyy previously reported that Russia continues its attempts to draw Belarus into the war, including, reportedly, with the aim of carrying out an operation against one of the NATO countries.
• Ukraine's drone commander, commenting on threats from Belarus, stated that the military has already identified 500 targets on the territory of that country. He also called on self-proclaimed Belarusian president Lukashenko "not to stick in Ukraine's craw".
• Lukashenko responded to this statement and threatened to strike one "very serious" target in Ukraine, the coordinates of which Minsk allegedly holds.
• Lukashenko said there should be no expectation of military action from Belarus and apologised to Volodymyr Zelenskyy for harsh words. In response, Zelenskyy said that Lukashenko must demonstrate concrete steps towards de-escalation.

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