Ukrainian MP: A Cover-up Operation Is Being Prepared In Belarus

• 14.05.2025, 18:15

Putin may attack the Baltic states.

Putin proposed to start talks with Kiev on May 15 in Istanbul. Vladimir Zelensky said he would wait for Putin in the Turkish capital in person. Will these talks take place? Can they bring peace?

The deputy of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine from the party "Servant of the People" Oleh Dunda gave his assessment of these and a number of other events to the site Charter97.org:

- Let's define: what kind of negotiations should take place in Istanbul?

The negotiations at the level of heads of state are unlikely. Moscow will send Vladimir Medinsky to Istanbul, who will be supported by a group of low-level officials. This follows Putin's words that it is necessary to "start from where we left off in 2022."

The Ukrainian president's office has already said: Zelensky will meet only with Putin. He does not intend to meet with officials and sycophants.

Today there is no point of compromise, and Moscow has no desire to stop war and aggression. Accordingly, there is no hope for successful negotiations and a truce.

- What steps can Putin take in the near future to raise the stakes in the confrontation?"

- The situation must be viewed in terms of the situation on the front. Putin will increase pressure on all fronts - from Ugledar to Zaporizhzhya and Sumy region. But this pressure is protracted and extremely ineffective. It does not give Moscow any strategic advantage.

That is why there is a high probability that at some point Putin will decide to "raise the stakes" and "turn the table" - to launch an operation to occupy the Baltic region.

This is what European partners are also talking about, but they believe that it is possible in three years. I believe that Moscow understands perfectly well: Europe has begun the process of rearmament, and in what state it will be in three years is unknown. Now Putin has a window of opportunity when European armies and defense forces are not ready for a military operation, not to mention the defense of the Baltic states.

- Joint Russian-Belarusian exercises "Zapad-2025" are planned for the coming months. The movements of Russian troops across the territory of Belarus are already being recorded. Can Moscow use these exercises as a cover for this attack?

- Of course, we are talking about a cover operation. Moreover, just a few days ago, the Russian Baltic Fleet officially announced that it will conduct about 50 exercises in the Baltic Sea this summer.

Factually, these exercises will allow Moscow to cut off any channels of support for Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia from Scandinavian countries and disrupt military logistics. This will create a threat of complete isolation of the Baltic region.

- You said that the AFU should act decisively against Lukashenko's regime and enter Belarus. Could the response to provocations from Belarus be active Ukrainian actions on Belarusian territory?

- Ukraine should demonstrate that it can take this kind of action in response to provocations, a possible operation in the Baltic. As Emmanuel Macron and Kir Starmer say, this is what "strategic uncertainty" is all about.

Ukraine must publicly demonstrate readiness for such operations in the event of a Moscow strike in the Baltic region. Moreover, no one but Ukraine can defend this region.

- There are many people in the prisons of Lukashenko's regime who have suffered for their pro-Ukrainian stance. They are rail guerrillas who staged sabotage on railroads at the beginning of the war. Can Ukraine help these people in any way? Include them, for example, in the exchange lists?

- This is possible, but, unfortunately, unlikely. As far as I know, such exchanges have already been carried out with a number of Russian prisoners.

But you have to understand: there are thousands of Ukrainians in Russian prisons who fought for their country and shed blood. They are the priority.

- What kind of relations await Lukashenko-free Belarus and Ukraine? How do you see them?

- It should be a partnership. Ukraine and Belarus are neighbors, we are next to each other. We are actually a line separating Europe from Asia and a transit corridor.

After Lukashenko, there can be no other relations between our peoples but friendly and partnership relations.