Ukraine must be prepared on its border with Belarus even if so far there are only „strong statements” from its neighbor, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said, after a visit to the Lviv region, Reuters reports, Agerpres reads.

Kiev has warned that Russia could use Belarus to launch a new land invasion of Ukraine from the north. But Zelenskiy made no reference to such warnings in his comments broadcast on Telegram after attending what he described as a coordination meeting on security issues in the Lviv region.

„We discussed border protection, the operational situation on the border with the Republic of Belarus and anti-subversive measures in these territories,” he said.

”We understand that apart from strong statements, we don’t see anything solid there; however, we must be prepared both at the border and in the regions”, insisted the Ukrainian president.

According to the presidential administration in Kyiv, Volodymyr Zelensky also took part in a ceremony in memory of Ukrainian soldiers killed in battle after the start of the Russian invasion last February.

In the message on Telegram, Zelensky did not make any reference to the fighting in eastern Ukraine, where the Ukrainian army allegedly lost control of the city of Soledar, information denied by Kyiv. On February 24, 2022, Russia launched an unprovoked and unjustified aggression against Ukraine.

Moscow claims that it is carrying out a „special military operation to de-Nazify” the neighboring country and to protect the Russian-speaking population of Ukraine.

Agerpres