Opinions & Interviews

Lukashenko: Belarusians are for peace

MINSK, 19 March (BelTA) – There is an absolute consensus in the Belarusian society on the issue of peace: there should be no wars, Belarusian President Aleksandr Lukashenko said in an interview to the Japanese TV channel TBS, BelTA has learned.

During the conversation with the head of state, the journalist said that the TV channel's film crew recorded short interviews with passers-by on the streets of Minsk. Most of the respondents spoke in favor of an early cessation of hostilities in Ukraine.

"This is what we're doing," the president said in response. “We advocate the negotiations. We don't want war. Like the Japanese, we know what war is. We suffered a lot in World War II. So we don't want war, and people told you that."

According to him, if there are some supporters of military action among Belarusians, they go to Lithuania and Poland: "They set up battalions there, arm them and collect money from the Belarusian diasporas around the world to finance these death battalions that are fighting in Ukraine."

“We have an absolute consensus in our society: there should be no wars,” the Belarusian leader emphasized. Moreover, Belarus has been hosting refugees throughout the conflict in Ukraine, accommodating them and granting them equal rights.

“A couple thousands of people have recently arrived in Belarus [since 24 February 2022]. Some of them have relatives in Belarus but they all are fleeing the conflict. All in all, about 200,000 people have arrived in Belarus since the conflict started in 2014. Some say 170,000-180,000 refugees, others – 200,000. Very few people have returned to Ukraine. They are now coming back to Belarus,” said the head of state.

“Thousands of people have come to Belarus. They are guaranteed the same rights as Belarusians. The reason for fewer numbers of Ukrainians coming to Belarus now is that because they have to pass through the positions of the Russian troops in order to get to Belarus. This fact restrains people from Kiev, other cities. People from the cities that are in the rear of the Russian troops such as Chernigov, and others, have been actively coming to Belarus,” said Aleksandr Lukashenko.

Speaking about his personal attitude toward war, the head of state said: “I have never supported any military action and never will. Neither by Russia, nor Japan. Neither by Ukraine, nor by the United States. War is unacceptable.”

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