Opinions & Interviews

Lukashenko wants Ukrainian conflict to end as soon as possible

BOBRUISK, 17 June (BelTA) – Belarus does not intend to fight in Ukraine. Belarus President Aleksandr Lukashenko made the statement while talking to workers of the Bobruisk-based tire manufacturer OAO Belshina on 17 June, BelTA has learned.

Aleksandr Lukashenko is convinced that the West is intent on getting Belarus involved in this conflict. “Putin has never asked me to go and kill someone in Ukraine and the rest. But they [the West] are pushing us towards this conflict in order to sort out both Russia and Belarus and set up a frontline – a line from St Petersburg to Rostov. In order to get rid of this Belarusian balcony as they call it. They failed in 2020. They continue doing it using other methods,” the head of state noted.

Aleksandr Lukashenko stressed that Belarus should not get involved in this conflict and should not start “a little war”. He said: “We have to protect this piece of land [Belarus]. Thank god, we’ve been able to for now. The most important thing for me is to get the Ukrainian conflict to end as fast as possible instead of getting involved up to my ears in it.”

The head of state also assured that Belarus is not going to fight in Ukraine. “I was already asked this question in private yesterday: is your army going to invade Ukraine? I said we are not going to go anywhere until you cross the red line. Once you cross our border or target Mozyr Oil Refinery (they had a crazy idea like that), we will respond immediately. This is why leave us alone, we are not going to go to you. If you grab our drivers like those 75 people, then we will stage an operation. A multitier one. If we cannot retrieve these people peacefully, then we will stage a military operation. But we will not abandon our people. What did you think? 75 people are someone’s children, they have children and grandchildren. This is why we had to take chances. Thank god, everyone is alive and healthy,” he stated.

The Belarusian leader also underlined the importance of military training, of reinforcing the Belarusian army: “We are going to train, particularly men. Because time is like this. The more we have and the more powerful our weapons are, the calmer we will feel. They will understand that if they hit Mozyr, then we will hit Kiev without going inside Ukraine. They have to understand it. But in order to deliver a strike, one needs something to strike with. We have that.”

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