EU comments on Ukraine’s ultimatum to Belarus over drone relay equipment
Photo: Volodymyr Zelenskyy, President of Ukraine (facebook.com/zelenskyy.official)
Belarus is helping Russia wage its war of aggression against Ukraine. Therefore, Ukrainians have the right to self-defense, states European Commission spokesperson Anitta Hipper during a briefing.
Anitta Hipper was asked to comment on Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s demand that Belarus remove signal repeaters from its territory, which are allegedly helping Russian forces carry out drone strikes on Ukrainian civilian infrastructure.
"Belarus continues to be an enabler of Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine," she recalled.
According to her, Belarus has repeatedly engaged in provocative actions against the European Union. In particular, there have been violations of the airspace of EU countries. Minsk has also used the migration crisis to put pressure on European states.
"Of course, Ukraine has the right to defend itself," Hipper stressed in the context of Zelenskyy’s statements regarding Belarus.
Zelenskyy’s demands
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy previously stated that signal repeaters for Russian Shahed drones had been installed on towers in Belarus near the Ukrainian border.
According to him, this equipment helps Russia guide its kamikaze drones toward targets in Ukraine.
Zelenskyy said Belarus would have one week to remove the equipment from the towers.
He also added that if Belarusian leader Alexander Lukashenko does not dismantle it, Ukraine would "do it itself."
