Opinions & Interviews

MINSK, 15 May (BelTA) – Belarus wants to see a strong Ukraine, Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko said as he met with Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Ukraine to Belarus Mikhail Yezhel on 15 May, BelTA has learnt.

Addressing the diplomat, the President noted that this meeting is symbolic in many ways. “It is not surprising, because I have made numerous statements about Ukraine, our involvement in the processes that are going on. Maybe, there is nothing that Ukraine, its people and authorities can blame me for. We tried to stick to a careful, balanced position, simultaneously saying that our government and I do care about Ukraine,” the Belarusian leader said.

Alexander Lukashenko wished that the Ukraine crisis ended as soon as possible. “We have never imagined that Ukraine might take a hostile position towards Belarus. I openly spoke my mind on the issues that bother us, including the issues related to the NATO. As you are a man from the army, you probably understand me. There is no need to pull Ukraine in any blocs, to bring troops there from any side”.

“Ukraine should be Ukraine. This is a country of 45 million, a friendly nation. It is a self-sufficient country. If we help it, instead of meddling, this will be a very influential country. Maybe, someone does not want the country to be strong and influential; however, this is not my position or the position of the Belarusian people. We want to see a strong Ukraine, with which we can cooperate, trade, as we have done in the past years. We have made some progress. We hope we will be able to restore this scale of cooperation and we are ready to do our best to achieve it. You should have no doubts regarding it,” the Belarusian President emphasized.

Alexander Lukashenko reminded the diplomat about his meeting with Ukraine’s Acting President Oleksandr Turchynov: “I have answered many of his confidential questions and concerns unambiguously, in a friendly way”. “I honor the arrangements reached with the Ukrainian authorities on the Pripyat. You can be confident of Belarus’ good attitude to Ukraine and all Ukrainian people. If you need any help (except for brokering, because I cannot stand it), I am ready to lend a hand to Ukraine anytime, because I take the developments in Ukraine too close to heart,” Alexander Lukashenko said.

Mikhail Yezhel thanked the Belarusian head of state for his very consistent and honest position. “In this situation, every kind word is a good support for Ukraine,” he said.

The Ukrainian diplomat noted that five or six points voiced by the Belarusian President in his interview to the Ukrainian TV show Shuster Live were 100% supported by the viewers, because this position echoes the sentiments of the Ukrainian people in general. “It rarely happens that politicians get 100% support. This speaks volumes. We felt Belarus’ attitude,” he said.

Mikhail Yezhel underlined that the meeting of Alexander Lukashenko and Oleksandr Turchynov signaled that the two countries have been and will be allied nations.