News & Events in Belarus

Lukashenko: Belarus did everything possible to prevent Russia-Ukraine conflict

MINSK, 19 March (BelTA) – Before the start of the Russian-Ukrainian conflict, Belarus did everything to prevent armed confrontation, Belarusian President Aleksandr Lukashenko said in an interview with the Japanese TV channel TBS, BelTA has learned.

“Ahead of Ukraine's conflict with Russia (you know my stance) I did everything possible to prevent war and ensure peace there. I was even ready to close the border between Donbass and Russia. It is 400 kilometers, and I was ready to send Belarusian border guards and also provide other assistance to Ukraine. Russia agreed to that. Ukraine refused. Why? Because the West was pushing them to this war,” the head of state said.

Moreover, Ukraine had imposed sanctions against Belarus even before the West did. “They closed their airspace for Belarusian aircraft. They limited all kinds of flights. Since the start of their conflict with Russia in 2014 they used Belarus as a layover to fly to Russia and other countries. They trained militants against us. They are training them now. They supplied explosives and weapons for terrorist groups here. We neutralized them all. Everyone knows about it,” Aleksandr Lukashenko said.

"Ukraine had taken a hostile position against Belarus. Tell me, what we should have done in that situation?" the Belarusian leader asked rhetorically.

As BelTA has reported, in an interview Aleksandr Lukashenko spoke about the situation in Ukraine, ways to resolve the conflict and the position of Belarus on this issue. "There is not a single Belarusian soldier in Ukraine. Despite their hostile stance towards Belarus, encouraged by the West (we turned this page), I called Zelensky and offered him to immediately enter into negotiations with Russia. Literally on the third or fourth day of this war," the head of state said. “He accepted the offer. We organized three rounds of talks here in Belarus. Now these negotiations continue in the videoconference mode."

“In other words, we don’t attack Ukraine, we don’t bomb Ukraine. We advocate negotiations,” Aleksandr Lukashenko stressed.

He also said that Russia offers Ukraine an absolutely acceptable deal which Ukraine should sign. According to the Belarusian head of state, a ceasefire in Ukraine will be possible as soon as this document is initialed.

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