Image Credentials: Image Title: Kremlin Pledges to Defend Belarus After Zelensky Issues Ultimatum Over Military Relay Stations. Source: (chatgpt.com) Date: June 2026. Attribution: This image was created using AI-generated imagery (chatgpt.com) by Open Chronicle and does not depict a real-world scene.
By Open Chronicle with agencies
The Kremlin has reaffirmed its commitment to Belarus after Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky issued an ultimatum demanding that Minsk dismantle infrastructure allegedly supporting Russia’s military operations and halt fuel deliveries to Moscow.
Speaking on Thursday, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov stressed that Russia and Belarus remain bound by their Union State agreement and pledged Moscow’s unwavering support for its closest ally amid rising regional tensions.
“We are a union state. And Russia will always stand by Belarus,” Peskov said, adding that Russia would remain alongside Belarus both during times of prosperity and when confronting external threats.
The remarks came after President Zelensky publicly called on Belarusian leader Alexander Lukashenko to disable relay stations located on Belarusian territory that Ukraine says are being used to guide Russian missile strikes against Ukrainian civilian targets.
According to Zelensky, the installations play a role in supporting Russian long-range attacks on Ukraine. He also demanded that Belarus stop supplying diesel fuel to Russia, arguing that such deliveries continue to assist Moscow’s military operations.
The Ukrainian president warned that if the relay systems remain operational within one week, Ukrainian forces would take action against the facilities themselves.
The ultimatum represents one of Kyiv’s strongest public warnings directed at Belarus since the beginning of Russia’s full-scale invasion. Although Belarus has not officially entered the conflict with its own combat forces, it has allowed Russian troops to use its territory for military operations, missile launches, and logistical support throughout the war.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov also reiterated Moscow’s support for Minsk in recent remarks, although he stopped short of detailing what specific military or political measures Russia would take should Belarus come under attack.
The exchange highlights growing concerns over the role Belarus continues to play in Russia’s military campaign and raises the possibility of increased cross-border tensions if Ukraine follows through on its warning.
Belarus has not publicly responded to Zelensky’s latest demands, while neither Moscow nor Minsk has commented on whether any changes to the alleged relay infrastructure or fuel shipments are under consideration.
The latest developments come as Ukraine intensifies long-range strikes against military and energy infrastructure inside Russia, while simultaneously seeking to disrupt logistical networks that support Russian military operations.