Zelenskyy on Belarus in Vilnius

During a stand-up in Vilnius, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy spoke about Belarus, referring to it as a 'European people.' He added that the 2020 uprising should have succeeded so that 'there would be no threats coming from there now.'

In response to the Ukrainian leader's comments, Belarusian users expressed outrage. Reactions included statements such as 'how he's gotten on our nerves, destroyed his own country, and now he's talking to us,' as well as objections that 'Zolche won't work... he's completely out of touch' and criticism over 'poor word choice.'

Meanwhile, a video showing forced mobilization in Kharkiv is spreading widely, increasing tensions in the region.

Context

In 2020, Belarus saw mass protests against the government, which were considered by some as courageous but failed to gain enough momentum for significant change.