By Burc Eruygur

ISTANBUL (AA) - Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Friday said his country “understands” where Belarus is deploying the Russian Oreshnik missile system and information is being passed on to its partners.

“The transfer of the Oreshnik to the territory of Belarus is being completed. We understand where it will be located. We are passing this information on to our partners. I think the partners themselves can assess this threat and understand how they should respond to it,” Zelenskyy told a joint press conference with Polish President Karol Nawrocki in Warsaw.

He said Ukraine warned its European and American partners on the deployment of the missile, claiming it is a threat to many countries including Poland.

“We showed them this. It is impossible to shoot down the Oreshnik with drones. They used the Oreshnik on the territory of Ukraine, and we understand how to deal with it,” he added.

Zelenskyy said Ukraine has asked partners to apply sanctions on companies in Europe and other continents that sell components for the production of the Oreshnik through third countries.

The remarks come a day after Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko said his country deployed the Oreshnik missile system and “is now on combat alert.”

The Russian missile was first used in November 2024, when Moscow said it struck a plant in the Ukrainian city of Dnipro in response to Kyiv’s use of Western-supplied long-range weapons on Russian territory.

- 'Signal' to Russia

Zelenskyy also said that the EU’s agreement on a €90 billion ($105 billion) loan package for Ukraine is a “signal” to Russia that there is “no point” in the continuation of the war on Ukraine.

“This is a signal to the Russians that there is no point in them continuing to fight, because we are supported financially, which means we will not ‘fall apart’ on the front. We will support our army, of course, and our people,” Zelenskyy said.

He expressed hope that his visit “opens a new and even more significant page” in bilateral ties, adding that he offered Ukraine’s experience to Poland on how to defend against drones.

Nawrocki, for his part, called the Ukrainian president’s visit to Poland positive for both countries and the region, but “bad news” for Russia, describing it as proof that Warsaw, Kyiv, and regional countries are “united” in terms of strategic matters, particularly in terms of cooperation in security.

He said he conveyed to Zelenskyy the impression in Poland that its aid has not been met with “proper appreciation.”

The Polish president also commented on the issue of transfer of MiG-29 fighters jets to Ukraine, saying Warsaw is seeking a “strategic, symmetrical partnership,” hinting at a potential exchange involving anti-drone systems.

He expressed support for sanctions on Russia, adding that it is not possible to ensure peace in Ukraine without the involvement of US President Donald Trump.