Events
Belarus’ UN envoy: Threats against Belarus and its leadership are unacceptable
MINSK, 29 June (BelTA) – Any attempts to exert pressure on or intimidate Belarus, including ultimatums and threats against the country and its leadership, are unacceptable, Belarus’ Permanent Representative to the United Nations Valentin Rybakov said at an emergency meeting of the UN Security Council, convened following the drone attack on a bus carrying Belarusian citizens in Russia's Bryansk Oblast, BelTA has learned.
“Belarus is not participating in the armed conflict. Any attempts to exert pressure on or intimidate Belarus, including ultimatums and threats against the country and its leadership, are unacceptable. We strongly advise against further testing the patience of the Belarusian side and under no circumstances interpreting the absence of an immediate tough response as a sign of weakness, indecision or cowardice,” Valentin Rybakov stressed.
The diplomat said that recent public and emotional statements by the Ukrainian leadership reflected only a desire to further escalate the conflict.
“Belarus is categorically opposed to escalation. We call for diplomacy and negotiations as the only means of resolving the conflict. A professional and confidential dialogue between Minsk and Kiev continues with the aim of exchanging information and finding common ground. This dialogue is producing results and will continue. Suffice it to say that all exchanges of prisoners of war and the bodies of the deceased between the Russian and Ukrainian sides take place with our assistance on the territory of the Republic of Belarus. All of this should be taken into account before making public accusations and engaging in provocations,” he said.
Valentin Rybakov also pointed out that Belarus is located at the epicenter of the regional confrontation. As previously reported, unmanned aerial vehicles have repeatedly entered the country’s airspace, with some crashes causing damage on Belarusian territory.
“This war involves the extensive use of drones and electronic warfare systems. One recent example was the discovery on 17 June 2026 of a drone identical to the UAV that attacked the Belarusian bus in Bryansk Oblast earlier that same day. It was found in the Lelchytsy District of Gomel Oblast. The wreckage indicated a flight path from Ukraine toward Russia through Belarus,” Valentin Rybakov said.
He explained that he cited this example because Belarusian investigators had established that the drone found in Gomel Oblast and the one used in the attack on the Belarusian bus carrying children were equipped with identical components and belonged to the same type of UAV. According to the investigation, on 17 June both drones were within the signal range of four Ukrainian Armed Forces units stationed in Chernigov and Sumy oblasts.
“If Belarus requested a Security Council meeting every time a drone entered its territory, such meetings would outnumber the Council’s regular monthly sessions. We have already heard, and may hear again today, provocative statements directed at Belarus. We see no reason to respond to them once more, as Belarus has repeatedly presented its position publicly at all levels. We believe it is entirely inappropriate to raise these issues during today’s meeting, which is intended to address a different matter,” the Belarusian diplomat said.
According to Valentin Rybakov, accusations that Belarus is complicit in the conflict are particularly cynical when made by states that spend billions of dollars supplying Ukraine with weapons, training military personnel and transferring intelligence data. “These countries are not merely accomplices but direct participants in the war, and they are doing everything possible to ensure that it continues.
“Belarus has consistently advocated strict adherence to international law and the protection of civilians, especially children, who should never under any circumstances become targets in armed conflicts. Belarus calls on the international community to provide an objective and impartial assessment of the attack on the bus carrying Belarusian citizens. Such crimes must not be ignored, and those responsible must be held accountable,” he concluded.
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