Kyrylo Budanov, Head of the President's Office of Ukraine, commented on the current situation on the Belarusian front in an exclusive interview with RBC-Ukraine. According to the official, Alexander Lukashenko has taken Kyiv's warnings about the possible consequences of entering the conflict seriously.
Belarus Will Not Become a New Zone of Combat Operations
Budanov emphasized that it is extremely important for Ukraine not to create additional enemies for itself. Opening a new front in the north of the country would be a strategically disadvantageous step. In the interview, he noted that Minsk, it seems, has understood this signal.
"I don't mean that we are escalating something there ourselves, no. But in principle, having another enemy and another zone of combat operations is definitely not in our interest. The fact that they heard us is a very correct step. And it needs to be perceived exactly that way," stated the Head of the President's Office.
Geopolitical Dead End for Minsk
According to Budanov, a war with Ukraine makes no sense for the Belarusian leadership and carries fatal risks. The official described the situation as a trap in which Lukashenko found himself between two powerful forces.
"Because on one side there is Russia, which will strangle in brotherly embraces and will strangle them to the end under such conditions. And they know this perfectly well. On the other side, there is Ukraine, which, let's say, can do something," Budanov explained his position.
The Head of the President's Office is convinced that entering the war will end in collapse for Belarus. According to him, Russia will completely absorb the sovereignty of its ally, while Ukraine is capable of inflicting significant damage. It is precisely this understanding that is likely keeping Minsk from taking active action.
Absence of Threats at the Current Stage
Summarizing the analysis of the situation, Budanov noted the absence of obvious threats from Belarus at the time of the conversation. He clarified that this refers not only to a ground offensive but also to other forms of escalation that are not currently observed.
"Accordingly, as of the current moment, at the time of the conversation, I do not see any threats, I am not talking only about a ground offensive," Budanov concluded.
