Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has called on NATO to treat Russia's intermediate-range "Oreshnik" missile system deployed in Belarus as a legitimate military target, Europeiska Pravda reports, citing his interview with Belarusian opposition outlet Zerkalo.
Zelenskyy argued that Russia and Belarus are staging a "show" around the deployment, since the full missile complex has not yet been delivered — only "the corresponding vehicles" have arrived so far. The purpose, he said, is to intimidate Europe.
"In my view, NATO should consider 'Oreshnik' a legitimate target. Ukraine, for its part, will assess this threat," Zelenskyy said. He then directed a warning at Belarusian leader Aliaksandr Lukashenka: "He shouldn't play games, because after these steps, without even consulting Lukashenka, the Russians will bring 'Oreshnik' onto Belarusian territory."
The statement follows Zelenskyy's earlier remarks at the World Economic Forum in Davos, where he highlighted the threat the Russian ballistic missile poses to Europe from its position in Belarus.
In December, Lukashenka announced that the Russian "Oreshnik" missile complex had been placed on combat duty in Belarus. Zelenskyy responded by calling on Western partners to increase pressure on Russia.
