Opinions & Interviews

Volfovich: Trump acted wisely by calling Lukashenko prior to Alaska summit

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MINSK, 17 August (BelTA) – U.S. President Donald Trump proved himself a wise statesman by contacting Belarusian leader Aleksandr Lukashenko prior to the pivotal Alaska summit, State Secretary of the Security Council of Belarus Aleksandr Volfovich said during an STV television broadcast, BelTA reports.

According to him, the conversation of the presidents of Belarus and the USA came as a complete surprise to everyone, especially to the ‘concerned’ Western opponents – the Poles and Baltic states, Aleksandr Volfovich remarked. “Trump evidently is a wise politician after all, given that he chose to call our president ahead of such a critical political event. He clearly valued Aleksandr Grigoryevich’s perspective.”

Aleksandr Volfovich cautioned against overestimating the impact of this conversation in the current circumstances while acknowledging the call’s reputational benefits for Belarus in the West. “This obviously did not make them happy,” he remarked.

Aleksandr Volfovich emphasized that complacency remains impermissible. “We see how painfully Western leadership – particularly Western politicians – reacts to the possibility of the cessation or pause of hostilities during the special military operation,” he noted, adding that opponents have no interest in seeing combat operations in Ukraine halted.

“Unfortunately, we see escalating militarization in Poland and the Baltic states, especially in Lithuania,” he stated. “We’ve taken the first step. The head of state, the foreign minister, and military leadership have all reached out to our neighbors saying: let’s reach consensus, let’s come to the negotiating table and find common ground. We’re not forcing friendship on you. Don’t want to be friends? Fine. But we’re neighbors, and we must do everything possible to ensure security across our territories.”

The state secretary of the Security Council reiterated the head of state’s principle that “one must prepare for war to prevent it”.

“The Alaska summit... I believe a significant step has been taken by America, the Russian Federation, and Belarus. Belarus remains consistently committed to achieving a cessation of hostilities in Ukraine in the nearest possible timeframe,” said Aleksandr Volfovich.  

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