Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko said that Minsk “if necessary” will recognize the independence and sovereignty of the Donbass republics. Until now, according to him, “there was no such need.”
It adds nothing to Lugansk, Donetsk or the Crimea. But the Crimea, Lugansk, Donetsk’s food, brick, cement, renovation, etc. We will help them if they need it. It will be necessary – we agree. If there is any sense in that,” he explained in an interview with Agence France-Presse (quotes from BelTA hereafter).
The Belarusian politician stressed that Belarus is already “really cooperating” with Crimea, Lugansk and Donetsk, and that official recognition today “will not give anything extra”.
Lukashenko added that Russia fully supports the decision to launch a special operation in Ukraine. “And not just because we have an alliance with Russia. And not only because we are legally obliged to do this: we signed an agreement with Russia on the creation of a single troop group in the western direction, the basis of which is the Belarusian army. This has been known for a long time, this is our doctrine,” he said, adding that Belarus “sees the reasons” for the special operation.
“Because Russia, if NATO members hadn’t gotten ahead of you, you would have organized and struck a blow. I believe this and Russia believes it. And it would be,” Lukashenka told an AFP journalist.
“If [президент РФ Владимир] Putin did not initiate this operation, you would have started it, but it has already been organized. He just got ahead of you. This is the situation of Russia and Belarus,” he said.
The Belarusian leader expressed confidence that the West aimed to “break” Belarus last year, now standing on the threshold of Moscow. “in 2020 [в период президентских выборов] joyful [Запад] They also wanted to break through Belarus to build this belt from the Black Sea to the Baltic, and they have already stood on the threshold of Moscow. “If Belarus had been broken, NATO troops would have been near Smolensk,” he said.
The politician recalled that before the special operation began, Russia repeatedly turned to the West with a request to provide security guarantees. “Why didn’t you make such a guarantee? So you wanted war,” he summed up.
“Why are you targeting us?”
Lukashenka also confirmed that attacks on Ukrainian military installations were launched from Belarusian territory. According to him, this was done “for preventive purposes.”
“Why were four divisions deployed on the border? Why are you targeting us? Do you mean to say that I have to sit and wait until the rockets start falling on the heads of the Belarusian people? No,” said the Belarusian president.
“I support Russia for preventing you. If the Russian army had missed this moment, it would have had to take a huge blow not from Ukraine, but from NATO troops. Now Ukraine is not fighting, now you are fighting there: your mercenaries and your weapons. So you guys are bigger aggressors than I am,” he added.
Lukashenka also noted that he sees Belarus’ role in the special operation in Ukraine “just protecting the rear”. “We still say yes, we are participating in the operation. But how: we closed the west, south-west of Belarus so that you do not shoot the Russians from there in the back. Here is our participation. Yes, we treated the wounded, the dead were taken to the territory of Belarus. We deliver medicines to both Ukrainians and Russians,” he said.
At the same time, he confirmed that Russian soldiers were on the territory of the republic, but “not a single Russian soldier” came to Belarus “without his invitation or permission.” “So all with my consent. That’s the president’s job. Not a single soldier – intelligence officer, counterintelligence officer and others – can be here without my knowledge, ”says the state agency, quoting the words of the leader.
“Peace Role”
Lukashenka believes that Minsk has a peacekeeping role in the conflict between Moscow and Kyiv. “The first is peacekeeping. As soon as this conflict began, in general, without details, knowing what was going on and what was going to happen, I searched all day. [президенту Украины Владимиру] Zelensky and asked him: “Volodya, please sit at the negotiating table. Not to your detriment. Contact. “Any peace is always better than the best war,” he said.
In addition, several “very successful” rounds of Russian-Ukrainian negotiations took place in Belarus, but the “West, especially the USA and Great Britain” forbade Ukraine from continuing them.
Noting that Russia has not yet used its most powerful weapon during special operations, the president said, “I understand the subtleties and nuances, and although we call it a war, I agree that it is not a war yet. Why? Why? Because as I just said [президент РФ Владимир] Putin, Russia isn’t really fighting there yet. Russia has not yet reached the middle in terms of the quality of the war.”
Speaking of powerful weapons, Lukashenka explained that he doesn’t even mean nuclear weapons. “I saw this gun, I know, I dived into it. Therefore, there is still no war that could come from Russia,” he said. In addition, the Ukrainian authorities declared mobilization several times, while Russia was involved in the special operation “only regular troops and exclusively contract soldiers”.
“Because this is the end”
Lukashenka also reminded that Russia should protect Belarus “as its own territory”, in accordance with the previously signed agreement. Therefore, it is “sufficient” for Minsk that Moscow has nuclear weapons.
“Therefore, if it is necessary to use nuclear weapons, God forbid, of course. Because this is the end. It will be implemented by both France and Russia,” said Erdogan, adding that he is “categorically opposed” to such a scenario.
“He (nuclear weapons – socialbites.ca) must be completely destroyed in the world. But now there are biological weapons in addition to nuclear weapons – you see what’s going on – cyber weapons. You see, this is even worse than nuclear weapons. Therefore, we [Белоруссии] no need for nuclear weapons, ”the politician decided.
The Belarusian President added that NATO troops in Europe are training on nuclear bombs and aircraft capable of carrying charges. “Well, why not prepare for this? That’s why we agreed to equip our aircraft to carry nuclear weapons. But we can do it ourselves, we have aircraft factories that can re-equip Russian technologies,” he said.
“I will stand and fight with all my height”
Lukashenka promised to fight for the sovereignty of the country “if necessary” with weapons in hand. “What would you do if Germany announced tomorrow that it wanted to see France as part of Germany? This is where I react strongly. My main duty is to protect the sovereignty and independence of the state, that’s what I do. If the opposition fights against it, some person or state will demand the sovereignty and independence of Belarus, I will stand up with all my might and fight against it, this is necessary – with weapons in my hand, ”the statement said.
“Now you can see in all its glory,” said the President, what kind of policy Poland followed, for example. “You asked me to calmly look at what he saw in the properties of Poland, in his composition, I quote from them,“ all of Belarus ”? Lukashenka was taken aback.