Opinions & Interviews

Lukashenko comments on Europe’s future, policy towards Russia and Belarus

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SOCHI, 26 September (BelTA) – Europe's future is in cooperation with Belarus and Russia, but both countries will not tolerate being looked down upon, Belarusian President Aleksandr Lukashenko said as he met with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Sochi on 26 September, BelTA has learned.

"If Europe finished seething, it must pause and think (I am not speaking about those across the ocean). I have already told Europeans three times that their future is with us, with Russia, which has everything they need. In turn, they produce what we might need. What else do they need? It is just that they need to make responsible decisions. If they do not want it, so be it,” said Aleksandr Lukashenko.

“They must treat us with respect,” Vladimir Putin noted.

“Otherwise, we, Slavs, will not bother to talk to them at all. No one will tolerate being looked down upon. Neither Belarus nor Russia, a giant country. We remember the U.S. policy under the previous president. They declared themselves ‘exceptional, rulers of the world’. They continue with this policy today. You cannot treat others like that,” the Belarusian leader stressed.

“We are open to everyone who wants to live in peace with us and respect us. So are you. You are even more open. You talk about it all the time. We are ready for that. No one, however, will tolerate being looked down upon. Russian people have never tolerated it. No one, not a single Russian person, will allow any president, including President Putin, to digress from this policy. This is what our economy and politics are about. We have stated it more than once and we will continue with this policy,” Aleksandr Lukashenko said.

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