Opinions & Interviews
Lukashenko sees major prerequisites for end of war in Ukraine
MINSK, 14 June (BelTA) - Major prerequisites to end the war in Ukraine are already in place, Belarusian President Aleksandr Lukashenko said in an interview to the Rossiya 1 TV channel, BelTA has learned.
"We have a border of 2,500 kilometers with Poland, Latvia, and Lithuania. It must be defended. Who can guarantee us that they pose no threat to us? Because there is such a threat today. Look at the deranged NATO and their exercises. They are accusing us of deploying nuclear weapons ahead of the NATO summit in Vilnius. Meanwhile they themselves are conducting exercises by bringing tens of thousands of people from all over the NATO bloc. Therefore, that direction is very dangerous. I am not a prophet, but the war in Ukraine will end. Major prerequisites are already in place for this. But the hot heads in the West will continue creating many problems for us in the future. But as only they cross these lines (as they like to say), response will be immediate," the head of state warned.
At the same time, Aleksandr Lukashenko noted that the West, despite its steps, is actually terribly afraid of a new large-scale war. "I've met people who play an important role in this and make radical, cardinal and final decisions in the event of an if. They are most afraid of (everyone was sincere about this) of a nuclear catastrophe. They are afraid of the use of nuclear weapons in Ukraine. This is natural. We don't want to either. We are also afraid. Because this can lead, as experts say, to a global catastrophe. The Earth might fall of its orbit if all these weapons explode," the president said.
He believes that Russia can use nuclear weapons in response to aggression that threatens the existence of the state. "When cornered, you have only one way – forward. This is when they might expect major surprises," the head of state put it figuratively.
Aleksandr Lukashenko is convinced that as long as there is an opportunity, it is necessary to negotiate. However, the West, he said, does not allow Ukraine to negotiate. "Although I am sure and have such information that today the vast majority of people in Ukraine, including the military who are fighting dying there, want the war to end. But there is this hyped-up elite led by Volodya Zelensky. He is now a ‘hero’ who is roaming around the world. He gets a hero welcome everywhere. I thought he was smarter. We have the example of Gorbachev: he was too welcomed with open arms and what did he get out of it? This is exactly what will happen to him," the president said.
"People in Ukraine want to live. Sooner or later we will figure out who is to blame. That won't be in their favor either. But now we need to stop the war so that people stop dying," the Belarusian leader stressed.
He also spoke about the first results of the Ukrainian counteroffensive: Ukraine lost a significant number of soldiers and armored vehicles. "Russia has pulled itself together. It has finally learned how to fight. And it is fighting hard," the head of state said. “It is very difficult to attack the defending party. I don't think the Ukrainian counteroffensive will work."
Aleksandr Lukashenko also touched on the situation in the European Union. People are unhappy with the deteriorating economic situation in their countries with billions of dollars going away to Ukraine. "Opposition to everything that is happening is already simmering inside the countries," he stated.
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