Opinions & Interviews

Eismont: The Belarus president is doing everything to avoid escalation

Image credit: The First News TV channel

MINSK, 18 September (BelTA) – Belarus President Aleksandr Lukashenko is doing everything to avoid escalation. The Belarus president’s Press Secretary Natalya Eismont made the statement on the air of the First News TV channel as she commented on the intelligence data about provocations in the making that Aleksandr Lukashenko revealed the day before, BelTA has learned.

Natalya Eismont said: “The president traditionally talks about the most important things on our important state dates and holidays – Independence Day, People’s Unity Day. These are important things that are full of meaning. And certainly, the head of state seized the occasion in order to reveal up-to-date information and even operational data to us. According to yesterday’s statements [during a patriotic forum held on the occasion of People’s Unity Day] concerning provocations in the making and concerning a possible deterioration of the situation in late September – October the president had received this information. What is it about? As the head of state said, according to the obtained information, actions in the area of [Russia’s] special military operation in Ukraine may escalate soon, in late September – early October.”

“We are concerned that according to this information, some events at the Belarusian-Ukrainian border are supposed to trigger the deterioration of the situation between Russia and Ukraine. In particular, Russian drones are allegedly supposed to fly from Belarus’ territory into Ukraine. This event is supposed to be the reason for the escalation. And Ukraine can exploit it to deliver a retaliatory strike against Belarus. In particular, against infrastructure facilities. End of quote,” the official said.

“Naturally, no strikes are delivered from Belarus’ territory. And Ukrainians know it well. Nevertheless, it may be an attempt to get Belarus involved in the war. The head of state has talked about it many times. Multiple attempts to get Belarus involved have been made but they have failed. The president is doing everything to avoid escalation. It is another method, another attempt to get us involved. What for? It may be a step towards destabilizing the situation inside the country ahead of the presidential election,” the press secretary concluded.

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