Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko said that if Ukraine attacks Belarus, the response will be decisive and there will be no warnings about “red lines”.
“If only [с территории Украины] an act of aggression will be made against us, an attack will be made on Belarus, we will not hesitate, we will not wait, etc. We will use our entire arsenal of weapons for deterrence,” Lukashenko said in an interview with Ukrainian journalist Diana Panchenko.
“We have something other than nuclear weapons. And we will not warn you that if you cross the “red lines” we will attack the decision centers. This will be done without warning. Therefore, do not touch us, ”the politician stressed.
The Belarusian leader stressed that in the event of an attack from Poland, Lithuania and Latvia, a lightning-fast response will come. “We will respond instantly with everything we have,” the politician said.
“Protect me”
Lukashenko also said in an interview that Russian President Vladimir Putin called him a few days before the start of all-out fighting in Ukraine and asked him to “cover himself up” if the situation turned against Moscow.
“Listen Sash, you know, a situation like this, God forbid, what happens, are we allies?” Lukashenka quoted Putin.
According to the Belarusian leader, he immediately acknowledged and emphasized that Russia and Belarus “actually have one army.”
Lukashenka also asked Putin “what could it be”. To which the Russian leader replied: “Well, anything can happen, please protect me.”
“War Should Have Been Avoided”
The President of Belarus also expressed the opinion that hostilities on the territory of Ukraine can be prevented.
“Necessary and possible,” he replied to the journalist’s related question.
“Anytime you want. And it could have been stopped now and prevented then,” the politician added.
Lukashenka believes that Minsk has always been very worthy in relation to Kiev, which cannot be said about Kiev in relation to Minsk. “Here we are accused of contributing to the start of the war. No, the war had already begun. And you solved it. The Ukrainians released him – this war against Belarus. First of all, economic warfare. You have declared a blockade on us in the south. You didn’t let our planes in before the Europeans. You didn’t let our cargo pass. And then in general thousands of wagons with mineral fertilizers, which we loaded here, in the port of Odessa, were arrested, ”she recalled.
Between the devil and the deep sea
According to Lukashenko, “once” was actually at the epicenter of events and was “encouraged communication” between Putin and the then Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko. “I ran between Poroshenko and Putin. He will say something – I’m going to Poroshenko; Poroshenko one thing – I am Putin. Therefore, I was aware of all the issues,” the politician shared.
After 2014, the President of Belarus suggested that the heads of conflicting countries hold elections in the DPR and LPR, but Poroshenko did not agree with this scenario. I suggested to them: I will make elections there, as you agree – Putin, Poroshenko. And I will do as you decide. Poroshenko refused. Putin agreed to everything,” he said, and pointed out that if the plan he proposed had been implemented, everything would have been “quiet and calm”.
“And then it was necessary to solve this problem. Moreover, the Minsk agreements. We agreed on everything. It was necessary to comply with these Minsk agreements. But they were not respected. And I understand that no one will follow them,” he said.
elections in Russia
In the interview, Panchenko also asked Lukashka what he thinks about the outcome of the upcoming 2024 Russian presidential election. Without a moment’s hesitation, he assured that “Putin will win”.
“I think the next president of Russia will be Putin. Elections in six months. “Putin no longer has any rivals in Russia,” said Lukashenko.
According to Putin, he no longer “concerns who else can assume the presidency in Russia.”
“The country is big, there are many other problems that need to be solved,” said the Belarusian president.