--- title: "Lukashenko Congratulates Ukraine on Independence Day, Recalling \"Centuries-Old Traditions\" and Wishing \"Peace\"" description: "Alexander Lukashenko unexpectedly congratulated Ukrainians on Independence Day, recalling \"centuries-old traditions\" and wishing the country peace. At the same time, he remained silent on the fact that for more than four years his regime has been helping Russia in the war against Ukraine." date: 2026-08-24T07:34:00.000Z lang: en url: https://xab.info/en/posts/lukashenko-congratulates-ukraine-on-independence-day tags: [belarus, ukraine, independence-day, lukashenko, russia] publisher: "XAB.info" --- # Lukashenko Congratulates Ukraine on Independence Day, Recalling "Centuries-Old Traditions" and Wishing "Peace" ![Alexander Lukashenko gesturing during a statement congratulating Ukraine on its Independence Day, with Russian and Belarusian flags in the background](https://xab.info/media/2026/08/24/lukashenko-pozdravil-ukrainu-s-dnem-nezavisimosti/lukashenko-pozdravil-ukrainu-s-dnem-nezavisimosti-1.webp) ## 🎯 Key Points - Lukashenko congratulated Ukraine on Independence Day, citing "centuries-old traditions" and wishing "peace and happiness." - The address made no mention of the fact that for more than four years Belarus has been providing Russia with territory and military infrastructure for the war against Ukraine. - NATO classifies Belarus among the states supporting the Russian military machine; in 2026 Kyiv accused Minsk of facilitating Russian attacks. Belarus's illegitimate president Alexander Lukashenko unexpectedly decided to congratulate the Ukrainian people on Independence Day. This was reported by RBC-Ukraine, citing the Telegram channel "Pool of the First." On the state holiday of August 24, the Belarusian leader recalled that "the historical fates of the Belarusian and Ukrainian peoples are closely intertwined," and addressed wishes of "peace and happiness" to the Kyiv authorities and citizens. ### "Centuries-Old Traditions" and an Invitation to Visit In his address, Lukashenko stated that "the nations are bound by centuries-old traditions, memories of joint victories and heavy trials." According to him, "despite geopolitical upheavals, future generations of Belarusians and Ukrainians will preserve the eternal friendly and kinship ties," and in the future the two countries will allegedly resume "mutually beneficial cooperation on the principles of trust, respect, and equality." The press service of the Belarusian leader added that "hospitality Belarus is always open to every Ukrainian who comes with good intentions," and conveyed wishes of "health and prosperity" to the citizens of Ukraine. ### What Was Left Out of the Congratulation At the same time, the address did not contain a single word about the fact that for more than four years the Lukashenko regime has been helping Kremlin leader Vladimir Putin to wage a full-scale war against Ukraine. Right at the beginning of the invasion, Minsk allowed Russian troops to use Belarusian territory as a staging ground: tens of thousands of Russian soldiers entered Ukraine through it. Since then, Moscow has been using Belarusian bases and training grounds, the two countries regularly hold joint exercises, and Russian tactical nuclear weapons and "Oreshnik" hypersonic missiles are deployed on Belarusian territory. ### Minsk's Military Role and NATO's Assessment In 2026, Ukraine stated that Russia plans to establish ground-based control points for long-range strike drones on Belarusian territory, and Kyiv accused Minsk of using equipment on its territory to facilitate Russian attacks. Lukashenko himself continues to claim that he does not plan to send the Belarusian army to fight against Ukraine, however, this does not negate the fact of providing Russia with territory and military infrastructure. NATO directly classifies Belarus among the states supporting the Russian military machine. ### Context: Who Else Addressed the Ukrainians Lukashenko's congratulation came against the backdrop of other addresses on Independence Day: on August 24, Volodymyr Zelenskyy congratulated Ukrainians on the state holiday, and US Secretary of State Marco Rubio also publicly addressed the Ukrainian people. The contrast between these statements and Minsk's rhetoric only underscores how cynically "centuries-old traditions" sound from the lips of the Belarusian leader against the backdrop of an ongoing war. ## 🔍 Fact-Check Verification - [Lukashenko cynically congratulated Ukrainians on Independence Day, wishing "peace and health"](https://www.rbc.ua/ukr/news/lukashenko-tsinichno-privitav-ukrayintsiv-1787556644.html) - Подтверждает факт поздравления, цитаты о «многовековых традициях», «гостинной Беларуси» и пожеланиях; указывает на роль Беларуси в войне. - ["Centuries-Old Traditions" and an Invitation to Visit: Lukashenko Congratulates Ukraine on Independence Day](https://focus.ua/politics/765485-den-nezavisimosti-ukrainy-lukashenko-opublikoval-sobstvennoe-pozdravlenie) - Совпадает по ключевым цитатам и контексту поздравления. - ["Closely Intertwined": Lukashenko Addresses the People of Ukraine on Independence Day](https://www.mk.ru/politics/2026/08/24/tesno-perepleteny-lukashenko-obratilsya-k-zhitelyam-ukrainy-v-den-nezavisimosti.html) - Подтверждает формулировку о «тесно переплетенных» судьбах и дату обращения 24.08.2026. - [Russia Is Surrounded by Enemies – Expert on Lukashenko's and Aliyev's Congratulations to Ukraine on Independence Day](https://www.infox.ru/news/251/385235-rossia-okruzena-vragami-ekspert-o-pozdravleniah-lukasenko-i-alieva-ukrainy-s-dnem-nezavisimosti) - Дает экспертный контекст к поздравлениям Украины в День Независимости, включая обращение Лукашенко. ## ❓ FAQ ### Q: Why did Lukashenko congratulate Ukraine on Independence Day? **A:** According to RBC-Ukraine, citing "Pool of the First," on August 24 Lukashenko published a congratulation in which he spoke of "centuries-old traditions" between the peoples and wished Ukrainians "health and prosperity," and the country "peace and happiness." ### Q: Did Lukashenko mention Belarus's role in Russia's war against Ukraine? **A:** No. The address did not contain a single word about the fact that for more than four years the Lukashenko regime has been providing Russia with territory, bases, and military infrastructure for waging war against Ukraine. ### Q: What is NATO's position on Belarus? **A:** NATO directly classifies Belarus among the states supporting the Russian military machine, despite Lukashenko's claims that he does not plan to send the Belarusian army to fight against Ukraine.