MINSK, March 7. /TASS/. The sabotage attack that took place at the Machulishchy airfield near Minsk and targeted the A-50 early warning and control aircraft of the Russian Air Force couldn’t have happened without the consent of Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky, Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko said on Tuesday.

"I used to think Ukraine needs peace, that Zelensky cares about his people," he said, the BelTA news agency reported. "Such operations aren’t undertaken without the authorization by the country leader and the commander-in-chief. I’m telling you this as a president."

Lukashenko said Zelensky had sent people to Belarus to conclude a "non-aggression pact."

"To which I said, 'We're not going to attack.' No, let's sign a treaty under the auspices of the United Nations that you will not attack us." You've heard all of these statements of mine. <... > Well, a challenge has been issued," Lukashenko said.

Earlier on Tuesday, Lukashenko announced an agent of Ukrainian special services and his accomplices had been detained in Belarus for involvement in the sabotage attack on the A-50 aircraft at the Machulishchy airfield near Minsk.

At the end of February, there were reports that the military airfield of Machulishchy had been attacked and the A-50 aircraft of the Russian Aerospace Forces allegedly suffered significant damage. Belarus called these reports false. Later, Belarusian television aired footage of an A-50 aircraft was shown in good condition while moving on the runway and while flying. It was also stated that the plane "escorted" Lukashenko's plane during his return from Beijing.