President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy has signed a decree imposing personal sanctions against the self-proclaimed President of the Republic of Belarus, Alexander Lukashenko, in connection with his support for Russia’s continued war against Ukraine. The sanctions package officially entered into force on Wednesday, February 18.

According to Zelenskyy, Lukashenko has not only actively supported Russia’s aggression but has also contributed to its expansion — in particular by facilitating the circumvention of international sanctions and allowing Belarusian territory to be used for military operations. The Ukrainian head of state noted that in 2025 Russia deployed a network of signal relay systems in Belarus to control strike drones, which intensified attacks on Ukraine’s northern regions, including energy and railway infrastructure.

“Alexander Lukashenko long ago traded Belarus’s sovereignty for the preservation of his own power, helping Russians circumvent global sanctions, actively justifying the war and increasing his own involvement in its escalation”, Zelenskyy emphasized in a statement.

He also expressed his intention to strengthen countermeasures against all forms of assistance provided by the Belarusian leadership to Russia and to seek international support for these initiatives.

According to the document, the sanctions will remain in force for 10 years and include the following measures:

• blocking of assets and freezing of financial accounts;
• a complete ban on trade and transit operations with Ukraine;
• termination of financial transactions and prohibition on capital withdrawal outside Ukraine;
• revocation of licenses and permits for business activities;
• restrictions on participation in public procurement and privatization processes.

The ban also includes entry restrictions preventing Lukashenko from entering Ukrainian territory. Kyiv intends to work with international partners to ensure that these measures have a global effect and increase pressure on the Belarusian leader’s regime.

 

The introduction of personal sanctions by Ukraine against Alexander Lukashenko represents a step toward institutionalizing Belarus’s status as a party involved in the war on Russia’s side, even without formally entering direct combat operations. Through this move, Kyiv expands the framework of responsibility, signaling to the West the need to synchronize pressure on Minsk while simultaneously reducing the political maneuvering space of the Belarusian leadership.

#UKRAINE

#BELARUS

18.02.2026 10:46