Opinions & Interviews

Lukashenko: Belarus-Ukraine friendship will feel pressure from the West and the East

ZHITOMIR, 4 October (BelTA) – Belarus-Ukraine friendship will feel pressure both from the West and the East. Belarus President Aleksandr Lukashenko made the statement during the 2nd Forum of Regions of Belarus and Ukraine in Zhitomir on 4 October, BelTA has learned.

Aleksandr Lukashenko said: “Frankly speaking, the closer we are to you, the closer and more united our countries are, the greater pressure we will feel. Nobody will ever let us maintain very strong friendship regardless of what politicians around us and in the world may say. Unfortunately, the world operates on the ‘divide and conquer’ principle.”

Aleksandr Lukashenko pointed out that Belarus-Ukraine friendship will feel pressure not from one side but both from the East and the West. “The president [of Ukraine] and I recognize it. We talked about it in private. We are resolute to overcome this barrier,” the head of state stressed. “We are kind people. We don’t want to be friends against someone or wage a war against someone. We have to be strong.”

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