Ukraine pressure mounts: Lukashenko meets Xi and Putin

Ukraine demanded that Belarus remove signal relay stations used to control Russian Shahed drones from its territory. Under pressure, Belarusian leader Aleksandr Lukashenko met with Vladimir Putin last week and on Monday, 29 June, with Xi Jinping in Beijing. According to experts, Lukashenko is attempting to balance relations between Moscow and Kyiv to avoid direct Belarusian involvement in the war.

Belarusian President Aleksandr Lukashenko has come under mounting international pressure after Ukraine issued him direct demands to shut down signal stations supporting Russian drone attacks on Ukrainian territory.

A grand reception in Beijing

On Monday, Lukashenko met in Beijing with Chinese Communist Party leader Xi Jinping. China's state broadcaster CCTV reported that the meeting took place at the prestigious Diaoyutai State Guesthouse. In a statement from China's government, it was emphasised that the relations between the two countries have weathered international challenges and are "entering the best period in history".

Just days earlier, Lukashenko was also in Russia, where he met with Vladimir Putin. According to the Kremlin, the two leaders discussed trade and economic cooperation, implementation of joint projects, and regional security issues. The Kremlin did not release further details.

Ukraine's demands and drone stations

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky publicly demanded in June that Belarus remove signal relay stations used to control Russian Shahed drones from its territory. Last Wednesday, 25 June, Zelensky announced that signal relay stations located in Belarus, which had been used to coordinate Russian attacks against Ukraine, ceased operations from 22 June.

The Times newspaper has assessed that Kyiv has grown increasingly confident in its approach to Belarus. While Zelensky initially avoided direct confrontation with Lukashenko at the start of the war, Kyiv is now willing to make public demands to Minsk and, if necessary, threaten military action as well.

Lukashenko's balancing act

Lukashenko, in power since 1994, allowed Moscow to launch its invasion of Ukraine through Belarusian territory in 2022, but has consistently denied plans to participate directly in the war himself.

According to experts, Lukashenko is now attempting to walk a fine line: the dictator, heavily dependent on Moscow, wants to maintain relations with Russia but avoid a situation where Belarus becomes a direct military adversary in Ukraine's eyes. Kyiv's growing boldness in making public demands to Minsk is making this balancing act increasingly difficult.